BlossomROMBERG Time

THE OHIO LIGHT OPERA

Steven Byess CONDUCTOR Steven Daigle ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Blossom Time

Music...... Sigmund Romberg ENSEMBLE: (from themes of ) Natalie Ballenger, Ashley Close, Alexa Devlin, Adam Fieldson, Malia Book and Lyrics...... French, Mary Griffith, Kristina Hanford, Matthew Hill, Benjamin Krumreig, Andrew Maughan, Olivia Maughan, Suzanne Oberdorfer, Nathan Owen, Ohio Light Opera Allison Schumacher, Jarrett Smith, Mary Snyder, Ruby White. Artistic Director...... Steven Daigle Conductor...... Steven Byess PROGRAM NOTES ...... Michael D. Miller Stage Director...... Ted Christopher It was inevitable that the oper- Sound Designer...... Brian Rudell etta world would eventually tap into Choreographer...... Carol Hageman the seemingly bottomless well of Costume Designer...... Charlene Gross melodies of Austrian composer Scenic Designer...... C. Murdock Lucas Franz Schubert (1797-1828). His Lighting Designer...... Krystal Kennel tunes remain, after almost two Production Stage Manager...Katie Humphrey centuries, among the most beloved CAST: and recognized on classical music Franz Schubert...... Justin Berkowitz “Top 40” lists. Mitzi...... Amy Maples The first recycling of Schubert Franz Schubert (1797-1828) Baron Schober...... Luke Bahr music for use in occurred in Franz von Suppé’s 1864 Count Scharntoff...... Ted Christopher one-act work titled Franz Schubert. A half-century later, Hun- La Bellabruna...... Caroline Miller garian-born composer Heinrich Berté, with a dozen operetta Herr Kranz...... Boyd Mackus titles under his belt, but no significant hit, teamed up with Fritzi...... Danielle McCormick Knox librettists Arthur Willner and Heinz Reichert to produce one of Kitzi...... Sarah Best the most successful of all time, Das Dreimäderlhaus Vogl...... Stephen Faulk (The House of the Three Maidens). Berté’s first attempt at the Kuppelweiser...... Christopher Cobbett show was apparently rejected by the producer because it Schwind...... Brad Baron contained too much of Berté and too little of Schubert. Binder...... Jacob Allen Swallowing his pride, Berté rescored the work and relied Erkmann...... John Callison almost totally on Schubert melodies. The show opened at Frau Kranz...... Olivia Maughan Vienna’s Raimundtheater in 1916 and, by a decade later, Greta...... Ruby White had already passed its 1000th performance at that venue, Novotny...... Mary Snyder to say nothing about the multitude of productions around Frau Coburg...... Suzanne Oberdorfer the world. ❦ 2 ❦ Times spoke of “immortal melodies, of a beauty that often lies near to tears,” as audiences embraced the sad ending, did not mind that the music was “used,” and were able to suspend any acrimonious feelings about Vienna and Austria, against whom America had just fought a war. The show played for more than 500 performances and became one of the longest-running musicals in Broadway history. For those who might enjoy tracking down recordings of the Schubert source material for Blos- som Time—“Three Little Maids” comes from Rosamunde; “Serenade” derives from Ständchen, Sigmund Romberg (1887-1951) Dorothy Donnelly (1880-1928) included in the posthumous song-cycle Schwan- engesang. “My Springtime Thou Art” is found in By 1920, the Shubert brothers, Broadway’s most Écossaise (D. 735: 2) and Trauerwalzer (D. 365: 2). powerful show producers, had engaged Sigmund “Tell Me Daisy” comes from the second movement Romberg and librettist Dorothy Donnelly to “revise of the Unfinished Symphony; “Love’s a Riddle” and adapt” the original Viennese operetta. Both, derives from the song Heidenrösslein. “Only One however, put their personal stamps on the show. Love” appears in the song Die Forelle (The Trout) Romberg recast the rhythms and meters of several and in the first movement of the Sonata (D. songs to provide a more rollicking, waltz-filled 568). “Thou Art My Love” stems from the song operetta atmosphere. (Das Dreimäderlhaus, in fact, Ungeduld in the song cycle Die schöne Müllerin, was labeled a “singspiel,” and had a more folksy and “Peace to My Lonely Heart” is Ave Maria. quality than most of the Viennese operettas of the time.) Romberg’s principal stroke of genius was to employ, as a recurring Leitmotif, in fact, the sublime melody (titled here “Song of Love”) from the first PRODUCER’S NOTE: movement of Schubert’s Unfinished Symphony, a The entire musical score from the acclaimed 2012 tune that had been virtually ignored in Berté’s ver- OLO summer production of Blossom Time is sion. Donnelly’s re-working of the highly fictionalized recorded here, with a truncated version of the story of Schubert and his circle of friends included an spoken dialogue. For further information about ending quite different from that in Vienna. the full performance edition, please contact: After a six-month out-of-town tryout period, OLO online at ohiolightopera.org or by email Blossom Time opened on September 29, 1921 at at [email protected]. Broadway’s Ambassador Theater. The New York ❦ 3 ❦ PLOT SYNOPSIS (who are secretly engaged), and Schubert asks Schober to woo ACT I. before things get serious, Scho- Mitzi on his behalf with a new The penniless Viennese com- ber intervenes and tells Kranz love song. The power of the poser Franz Schubert and his that the third daughter Mitzi has music works—but Mitzi finds friends Baron Schober, Vogl, come for singing lessons with herself attracted to Schober, to Kuppelweiser and Schwind sit Schubert. He also manages to Schubert’s horror. at an outdoor café. Schubert is convince Herr Kranz to accept ACT III. approached by the wealthy the two engagements. Left Two months later. Schubert is Count Scharntoff and asked to alone with the shy composer, very ill, cannot manage to go compose a love-song the Count Mitzi says she knows all his out to hear his new symphony can pass off as his own composi- songs. Schubert is smitten. performed, nor can he forget tion. The Count wants to im- ACT II. the image of Mitzi. Count press his wife, the opera singer Three months later, the wed- Scharntoff arrives; he has chal- Bellabruna, whom he suspects of ding day of the two daughters. lenged Schober to a duel and having an affair with Schober. Bellabruna arrives unexpectedly, Schubert though ill, talks him The three Kranz girls, Mitzi, worried that Baron Schober is out of it. Mitzi comes to apol- Fritzi and Kitzi, appear, having also attracted to the young ogize for the mix-up of the escaped from their father, Herr Kranz girl. She tries to poison names and vows to nurse Schu- Kranz who doesn’t care for Fritzi Mitzi’s mind about an “F.S.” bert back to health. He gently and Kitzi’s boyfriends. Papa ar- whom Mitzi assumes is Schu- assures her that she truly loves rives, discovers the two couples bert, not Schober. The shy Schober and reunites the two.

FROM THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR For almost 35 years The little of everything: a well-known Wooster, its community and Ohio Light Opera has been and lesser-known Gilbert and nearly 600,000 patrons who dedicated to producing, promo- Sullivan, a Viennese operetta, a have championed the company's ting and preserving the best of French operetta, an American dedication to operetta have given the traditional operetta reper- operetta and a revival of a long- OLO a reputation that reaches toire. In any summer season, forgotten work that is given a internationally. In no small way, 20,000 patrons come to hear much-deserved rebirth for an Albany Records has added to the and see more than sixty perfor- appreciative audience. This CD company’s success. The company mances of seven productions on set will hopefully give the oper- and the operetta art form are the beautiful campus of The Col- etta aficionado a taste of what indebted to John Ostendorf and lege of Wooster in Ohio. These makes this company unique. Albany for their commitment. shows offer the operetta fan a The support of the College of Steven Daigle ❦ 4 ❦ Blossom Time The promise of spring has come true. join us, and he never has a penny. Tulips and daffodils VOGL Overture CD ONE, Track 1 Washed by the rain, Oh, don’t worry. The other Franz will Springtime and love time be along presently. ACT ONE Are with us again. SCHWIND Outdoor cafe in Vienna, Spring 1826. THE FRIENDS Ah! Our wealthy young blood, Opening Track 2 Lilacs and pansies... Baron Schober. Good! His credit will ALL (enter happily) FRIENDS, then ALL carry us. Hail! Hail! Let us greet... KUPPELWEISER Let us greet the spring with singing. By the way, is there any truth to his Wine, golden in the glasses ringing. Birds gaily in the sky are singing. affair with Bellabruna? Why should we have a care? Why should we have a care... VOGL Joy is everywhere, so fill your glasses, (General merriment.) It’s the talk of the Opera. Bellabruna All you lads and lasses. Scene Track 3 is mad about him. Let all the gloomy preachers sorrow. KUPPELWEISER SCHWIND We’ll never fret about tomorrow. Well, Vogl, how are things at the Isn’t her husband jealous? Hail! Let us greet... Opera? VOGL GRETA VOGL Of course! I bring you fragrant flowers, Splendid! I had ten calls before the KUPPELWEISER Pledges of sunny hours. curtain alone! But is our young baron in love with But will your flowers fade, KUPPELWEISER Bellabruna? Sweet young maidens? Bravo, my friend!! VOGL Lilacs and pansies SCHWIND He is avoiding her like the plague. And violets blue, filling I’ve asked Franz Schubert here to SCHWIND Look! There she is. (Bellabruna and her husband have entered.) BELLABRUNA (pulling Vogl aside) Vogl. Psst! Come over here. My husband the Count is frightfully jealous. I must see Baron Schober to Schubert’s warn him. Friends: Vogl (Stephen Faulk, left), COUNT (coming over with Kuppel- Kuppelweiser weiser) You must pardon me, sir, if (Chris Cobbett, I disagree with you. center) and Schwind (Brad KUPPELWEISER Baron, right). There is in this city of Vienna a man ❦ 5 ❦ who composes the finest songs ever done! (She turns to go.) written. COUNT COUNT Where are you going? Looking for And who is this prodigy? someone? Is that puppy Schober KUPPELWEISER here? My friend, Franz Schubert. BELLABRUNA COUNT Baron Schober means nothing to me. Franz Schubert? You don’t mean COUNT Franz Schober, that young popinjay. When a woman says “nothing” she That rake, that libertine!? means “something.” SCHWIND BELLABRUNA (sacastic) No, no. This is Franz Schubert... Stay here and meditate on your COUNT inspiration. Do write a song. Oh-la, Franz Schubert (Justin Berkowitz) Franz Schubert. Very interesting. I’ll what a burlesque! (She goes. Music remember. is heard.) expensive ones. I’m only a musician. BELLABRUNA COUNT (sits down at a table) COUNT Au revoir, Vogl. Don’t catch cold! Burlesque! Burlesque! A musician? You were very hoarse last night! SCHUBERT (enters hesitantly) SCHUBERT (The friends depart.) I beg your pardon, sir. Is this Yes. I have an appointment here with COUNT Domayer’s Restaurant? some artist friends of mine. Do you think it dignified to go off COUNT COUNT whispering with that...singer? Yes sir, it is. Will you tell me your name, sir? BELLABRUNA SCHUBERT SCHUBERT My dear, I am a singer myself. This is the place, then. Pardon me, Willingly. Franz Schubert! COUNT will I be in your way, sir, if I sit down COUNT It’s amazing how you overrate these here? The composer? people. What do they do that is so COUNT SCHUBERT (astonished) extraordinary? Be seated, I beg. You have heard of me? BELLABRUNA (annoyed) SCHUBERT COUNT Can you do as much? Can you Thank you. I have walked all the way Yes. I understand your compositions write a story? Paint a picture? from the city. are very... spirituelles. SCHUBERT Compose a song? COUNT You honor me. COUNT You are a stranger in Vienna? COUNT (dryly) I am quite confident that I could if I SCHUBERT chose to.. I haven’t heard them, but that’s Oh no, but I’m a stranger in this BELLABRUNA neither here nor there. I wish to restaurant. I don’t patronize such Ha! Just let me see one that you’ve make you a proposal. I want you to ❦ 6 ❦ compose a love song for a very COUNT I am yours. Ah! beautiful woman. You shall have it tomorrow! Folded in warmest ecstasy, SCHUBERT A love-song that will melt the heart Then kiss me... Ah! You wish a song from me? of a stone. COUNT (embarrassed by this) COUNT BELLABRUNA Silence, madame! I know not what I shall pay you well. It must be... sim- Really? I have the handsomest and you are thinking of. Those good-for- ple, melodious and passionate. I’m cleverest husband in all Vienna! And nothing tenors that embrace you pressed for time, but I must have it if the truth were known, the before everybody! by tomorrow. naughtiest as well! Not so? BELLABRUNA SCHUBERT COUNT (with dignity) Ha! Where the silver fountains Tomorrow? That’s all over, my dear. All over. Throw their sprays in the air, COUNT BELLABRUNA Where the orange blossoms I shall pay you 250 gulden. Nonsense, you are only a boy. Drift their white petals fair, SCHUBERT COUNT (chuckling) Hearts are full of fire and flame For 250 gulden I’ll write you a whole Don’t wheedle me, madame. Don’t And , opera! wheedle me! And laughter echoes everywhere... COUNT (counts out the money) COUNT No, no! I’m not that ambitious. 125 Song Track 4 And those young rakes in the now and the balance tomorrow. BELLABRUNA audience that send you bouquets SCHUBERT I feel your flowing eyes and poems and... love letters! You shall have a love-song that will Upon me are burning. BELLABRUNA melt the heart of a stone! Your soul unto my soul is burning. How my heart is beating like a drum COUNT When I hear the gypsy music strum. Let us hope that your prophecy And it seems to whisper: “come...! comes true. (Bella’s laugh is heard.) Come out, my own love, to me...!” Hush! Not a word. Remember: I (They go off laughing.) depend upon your discretion! SCHUBERT (going) Trio Track 5 250 gulden! Now I can buy my MITZI, FRITZI, KITZI (enter giggling) piano! Three little maids, petty and trim BELLABRUNA (returning) From our toes to our braids, Who was that shabby little man I We are off on the sly. saw you talking to? Can’t you guess why, COUNT Lest you should pry? Nobody, my dear. Nobody. Sweethearts are nigh. BELLABRUNA Bellabruna (Caroline Miller) with Count Sisters, beware, love is a snare. Have you written your song yet? Scharntoff (Ted Christopher). Till you are married, ❦ 7 ❦ You better take care; but I warn you: Remember to be demure. It’s risky to let them feel sure. Maidens, you know, Will meet a beau, If they’re not too hopelessly slow. Soon to a husband married I’ll be, Then there’ll be none Who will criticize me! Flowers are growing, Breezes are blowing. Binder (Jacob Allen) and Fritzi (Danielle McCormick Knox, at left), Mitzi (Amy Maples, Heart of mine, how warmly you glow. center) and Kitzi Kranz (Sarah Best) with Erkmann (John Callison). My love is burning, My soul is yearning. FRITZI ERKMANN I should advise less ardor to show, You deserve to marry a dried-up old But we’re hungry for one! Although I love him so... man with false teeth who’ll sit in the MITZI Mitzi and Fritzi and Kitzi Kranz, parlor and drink coffee with Mama. Then you must die of starvation. Eyes that dance, feet that prance, Perhaps that would be safe enough FRITZI, KITZI Off on the sly for a stolen meeting, courtship for you! Oh Mitzi, please! Lovers greetings, oh what fun! MITZI MITZI I have a sweetheart dear... Now, now! No quarreling, please. Wait! I know what we’ll do: we’ll They cannot see their beau alone, Fritzi, your sentimental ideas would take a little promenade, two-by-two, boarding school fashion, with the For she’s the fussy chaparone, so... get you into a pretty fix if I weren’t schoolmistress leading the way. Mitzi and Fritzi... here to protect you! Now off with you. Oh, the (Much more giggling) ERKMANN (coming in with Binder) responsibility of being a chaparone! Kitzi! Dialogue Track 6 (Music is heard as they go off.) BINDER FRITZI THE FRIENDS (re-enter, see Schubert) Fritzi! Oh, isn’t it wonderful to have a tryst Oh there he is! Hello, Franz! KITZI with one’s sweetheart in the spring? SCHUBERT Robert! It’s so poetic. My heart is beating Welcome, my friends. How goes it? like a bird in my breast. Oh, isn’t yours FRITZI VOGL too, Kitzi? Karl! Very badly. KITZI BINDER SCHUBERT No, my heart is in my mouth. Sup- One little kiss! What’s the matter? pose Papa should catch us! And at a MITZI (interceding) KUPPELWEISER restaurant too. What a fuss! No! None of us has a penny and Scho- ❦ 8 ❦ ber, our only hope for dinner, has returns.) What’s this? Food? A cake Your Muse is up to now. disappeared! with nuts and whipped cream? The FRIENDS SCHUBERT very thing that young girls love. All his music is divine, Is that all? Waiter! (Waiter arrives.) Suspicious also! So... I shall patrol But we’d rather have a glass of wine. Bring some of your finest cold ham, the entrance to the park where I can SCHUBERT anchovies and stuffed eggs and a watch anyone going in or coming It’s a serenade! roast fowl stuffed with chestnuts! out. (He goes off.) SCHOBER (tips the waiter) KUPPELWEISER Let’s try it. Look over my shoulder. THE FRIENDS What an old windbag! (sight-singing from the page) Explain! Have you robbed a bank? SCHWIND Under your window, Or murdered a blind beggar? Yes, and the food is getting cold! Deep in the shadow, SCHUBERT Ah, here is Schober. At last! Hello! Stand I here alone. No, my friends, I have simply sold a With my song, the nightwind weaves song to a generous old gentleman Ensemble Track 7 A pleading like my own. who gave me 250 gulden for it! SCHOBER In the trees that softly whisper, FRIENDS Good afternoon, Sings the nightingale... 250 gulden? Hail to the King of My boon companions, tell me Silver notes of hopeless yearning Song! How the world is treating you today. Where my words must fail... HERR FRANZ (sidles in, looks around) VOGL, SCHWIND, KUPPELWEISER (The others join him.) Hmm... Suspicious! Good evening, Hello there, Schober, All the agony of longing, gentlemen. We’ve a piece of news for you. All the bitter pain. KUPPELWEISER We’re feeling very gay. In his songs he tells my passion... A good evening to you, sir. Old Schubert here Sing, nightingale, again... Ah! KRANZ Has found a patron. (They sigh and applaud Herr Is this Domayer’s Restaurant? I knew his luck would turn ere long. Schubert.) KUPPELWEISER He’s giving us a splendid supper Yes, I believe it is. With the price of a little song. Dialogue Track 8 KRANZ Wake up, old friend, SCHOBER And are there three young girls in We’re waiting for your company. My dear friend, it’s exquisite! this hostelry? The dinner is already laid. SCHUBERT KUPPELWEISER SCHUBERT (writing) Do you really think so? Oh, you wicked old man! I’m just jotting down a serenade. SCHOBER KRANZ (haughtily) FRIENDS I know it. They’ll be singing this little I consider that remark uncalled for. I He’s just jotting... song when we’re all playing on am Christian Kranz, Jeweler to the SCHOBER harps. Court, and father of the three girls To your industry I bow. VOGL (to Schober) who are hiding here! (Waiter Show us what Well, Baron, any more adventures? ❦ 9 ❦ SCHOBER What more royal, comrades loyal, park entrance. Adventures? I don’t know what Greater blessing can you tell? KITZI you’re talking about. Cease your pondering, I knew he’d catch us. Oh dear! VOGL Wine and wandering, ERKMANN Well, Bellabruna has been here in the Friendship, Art all lose their spell. Don’t be frightened, darling. I’ll park looking for you all afternoon. Oh, gentle April who blesses protect you. SCHOBER The earth with caresses, BINDER Absurd. Why, it’s all lies! I haven’t Be kindly and give me Yes, we’ll explain everything. even the pleasure of knowing the The girl of my heart. MITZI lady! Upon her soft maiden’s bosom Are you crazy? Nothing i