The Rose of Persia

"The Rose of Persia"; "or, The Story-Teller and the Slave", is a two-act comic opera, with music by Arthur Sullivan and a libretto by Basil Hood. It premiered at the Savoy Theatre on November 29 1899, closing on June 28 1900 after a run of 220 performances. The opera had a brief run in America, opening at Daly's Theatre in New York on September 6 1900, closing on September 29 1900 after 25 performances.

The original cast included Ellen Beach Yaw, Rosina Brandram, Emmie Owen, Louie Pounds, Isabel Jay, Walter Passmore, Henry Lytton, and Robert Evett. Later, Decima Moore joined the cast as Scent-of-Lillies.

Background

When the Gilbert and Sullivan partnership collapsed after the production of "The Gondoliers" in 1889, impresario Richard D'Oyly Carte struggled to find successful new works for the Savoy. He was able to bring Gilbert and Sullivan together briefly for two more operas, neither of which was a great success. He also presented works by other composers, and he paired Sullivan with several new librettists, but they were not able to replicate the triumphs of the G&S heyday. In Basil Hood (1864–1917), Sullivan finally found a congenial new collaborator, giving the Savoy its first significant success since the early 1890s.

The casting of the soprano to play the leading role of the Sultana Zubedyah was problematic. Sullivan had been much impressed by the American high soprano Ellen Beach Yaw, and he prevailed upon the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company to cast her in the role. Leading soprano Ruth Vincent quit the company when she was passed over for the role. Sullivan wrote a special high cadenza for one of Yaw's songs, "'Neath My Lattice," to show off her extraordinary range. Yaw's first two nights were shaky, though the reviews were mixed, and both the music director, Francois Cellier, and Mrs. Carte advocated for her replacement. Sullivan at first agreed, though writing in his diary on 2nd December, "I don’t quite see what it’s all about — Miss Yaw is not keeping people out of the theatre as Cellier and the Cartes imply." By 10th December, however, he wrote in his diary that Yaw was "improving rapidly" and "sang the song really superbly: brilliant. So I wrote again to Mrs. Carte saying that I thought if we let Miss Yaw go it would be another mistake." [http://math.boisestate.edu/gas/rose/html/two_sultanas.html] It was too late, however, and the next day Yaw was dismissed summarily by Mrs. Carte (ostensibly on account of illness). Isabel Jay was promoted to play the part.

After "Rose" proved to be a hit, Sullivan and Hood teamed up again, but the composer died leaving their second collaboration, "The Emerald Isle", unfinished. "The Rose of Persia" was Sullivan's last completed opera.

"Rose" is firmly reminiscent of the style of the earlier Savoy successes, with its topsy-turvy plot, mistaken identities, the constant threat of executions, an overbearing wife, and a fearsome monarch who is fond of practical joking. Although critics found Hood inferior to Gilbert, his delight in comic word-play at times resembles the work of his great predecessor. With its episodic plot, its exotic setting, and its emphasis on dance numbers, "Rose" also takes a step towards musical comedy, which by 1899 was the dominant genre on the London stage.

Recordings and recent productions

In 1963, St. Albans Amateur Operatic Society made a recording of "The Rose of Persia". Another recording was made in 1985 by Prince Consort, and one was produced for BBC Music Magazine in 1999. Although the BBC recording is the most professionally produced, many fans prefer the earlier recordings. [Walters, Michael. [http://www.concentric.net/~Oakapple/gasdisc/rp-walt.htm Comparative review of the three "Rose of Persia" recordings] at "A Gilbert and Sullivan Archive" (2001)]

In recent decades, interest in performing the work has revived among amateur and professional societies. The work has been seen several times at The International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival in Buxton, England (most recently in concert in 2008), and the Festival has a video of the 2008 performance available. The New York Gilbert and Sullivan Players performed the opera at New York City Center in January 2007. The St. David's Players of Exeter in the UK perform the piece in October 2007.

Roles

* The Sultan Mahmoud of Persia (lyric baritone)
* Hassan ("a philanthropist") (comic baritone)
* Yussuf ("a professional story-teller") (tenor)
* Abdallah ("a priest") (bass-baritone)
* The Grand Vizier (baritone)
* The Physician-in-Chief (tenor))
* The Royal Executioner (baritone)
* Soldier of the Guard (bass)
* The Sultana Zubeydeh (named "Rose-in-Bloom") (coloratura soprano)
* The Sultana's favourite slaves::"Scent-of-Lilies" (soprano):"Heart's Desire" (mezzo-soprano):"Honey-of-Life" (Soprano)
* "Dancing Sunbeam" (Hassan's first wife) (Contralto)
* "Blush-of-Morning" (his twenty-fifth wife) (Soprano)
* Wives of Hassan::"Oasis-in-the-Desert":"Moon-Upon-the-Waters":"Song-of-Nightingales":"Whisper-of-the-West-Wind"

*Chorus (Act I) — Hassan's Wives, Mendicants, and Sultan's Guards
*Chorus (Act II) — Royal Slave Girls, Palace Officials, and Guards

ynopsis

Act I

"Scene: Court of Hassan's House."

Wealthy Hassan is contented with his peaceful life in Persia. He is surrounded by his twenty-five wives, including his first wife, Dancing Sunbeam, who wishes that they would mingle more with high society. Hassan is known for generously entertaining travellers and the poor in his home. Abdallah, the High Priest, arrives. Abdallah accuses Hassan of madness, because he consorts with beggars and other riff-raff, which he says does not follow Islam. He threatens to drive the evil spirit out of Hassan by force. As evidence of his sanity, Hassan offers to make out his will in Abdallah's favour. Abdallah agrees that anyone who would do this must be sane. Dancing Sunbeam plans to share Hassan's fortune with Abdallah should Hassan perish.

Yussuf, a traveling story-teller, arrives, shortly followed by four of the Sultan's slaves, who have slipped out of the palace disguised as dancing girls to explore the outside world. One of the girls, Heart's Desire, quickly falls in love with Yussuf. Another is actually Rose-in-Bloom, the Sultana. They know that they will surely be executed if the Sultan learns of their absence. Yussuf says that he will ensure that they return home safely. Hassan invites Yussuf, the girls, and a crowd of beggars and cripples into his home, offering them supper. Yussuf sings them a drinking song, and the "dancing girls" also perform for them. Abdallah enters with two police offers to arrest the unruly group. Hassan helps the beggars escape while Abdallah reads the warrant.

Abdallah orders the dancing girls arrested. Heart's Desire, who is wearing the Sultana's ring, steps forward and claims that "she" is the Sultana. By doing so, she hopes to provide Rose-in-Bloom (the real Sultana) with an alibi. Abdallah, thinking he has found the Sultana consorting with another man, is delighted, as he is sure the Sultan will order Hassan's execution. Abdallah expects that he will inherit Hassan's wealth under the will. Dancing Sunbeam realises that Abdallah has double-crossed her, and she will not share any of Hassan's estate after all.

After Abdallah leaves, Hassan distributes a narcotic drug called "bhang," which he says will relieve the distress of their impending execution. Rose-in-Bloom giddily tells Hassan that she is the real Sultana. Hassan, anticipating his execution, takes a triple dose of "bhang". Heart's Desire announces that the Sultan himself is about to arrive, along with his Grand Vizier, Physician-in-Chief and Royal Executioner, all disguised as dancing dervishes. The Sultan has decided to investigate for himself the rumours of Hassan's mad behaviour.

Intoxicated with "bhang," Hassan tells them that he doesn't care about the Sultan or his Executioner. The Physician realises that Hassan has overdosed on "bhang". He says the effect of the drug is that Hassan will gradually consider himself a person of more and more importance, until he suddenly falls unconscious for ten hours. Hassan starts behaving exactly as the Physician had described, claiming that he actually "is" the Sultan. As evidence of this, he tells them that he will introduce the Sultana. The actual Sultan is incensed that anyone would imitate his Sultana and says that the perpetrator will be punished. In the meantime, he decides to play a trick on Hassan and tells the Vizier to conduct Hassan to the palace and treat him as if he were the Sultan. They inform Hassan's wives that Hassan has been leading a double-life and is really the Sultan disguised. Hassan, believing that he is the Sultan, orders Rose-in-Bloom to lift her veil, so all may see that she is the Sultana, and threatens her with execution should she refuse. But he collapses from the drug's effects before she does so.

Act II

"Scene: Audience Hall of the Sultan's Palace, the next morning."

Yussuf sneaks into the Sultan's palace and tells Heart's Desire that he intends to ask the Sultan for her hand and will explain how they had met. She notes that the truth is likely to get them all executed and suggests that he make up a story instead. The Sultan enters, telling the members of his Court that they are to treat Hassan as if he were the Sultan. The Sultan is amused by Hassan's behaviour, as no one has ever treated him so disrespectfully. It also might be convenient to have a fake Sultan available, as he wants to take a holiday.

Dancing Sunbeam arrives. She has heard that Hassan is now the Sultan, and therefore she announces that she is now the Sultana and looks forward to her new social rank. The Sultan plays along, and he summons the real Sultana, Rose-in-Bloom, so that he can let her in on the joke. Rose-in-Bloom, however hears that a new Sultana has been installed and fears that the Sultan has discovered her excursion outside the palace. She is relieved to find that he does not know about it, but she is afraid that he will find out. She coyly asks him what he would do if, hypothetically, she were to sneak out on a lark. He replies that if she ever "did" do such a thing, she would be executed.

Hassan is brought in, still unconscious. When he wakes up, he is confused to find that he is being treated like a king and appalled to find that he now has 671 wives. Yussef arrives to ask the Sultan for Heart's Desire's hand in marriage, but he becomes flustered. Abdallah arrives to accuse the Sultana of consorting with Hassan. When the Sultan hears this, he calls an end to the practical joke. He orders Hassan executed. He further decrees that he will divorce Rose-in-Bloom and will force her to marry Yussuf, a mere story-teller. Yussuf and Heart's Desire are both despondent, as they now cannot marry each other.

Dancing Sunbeam enters, still believing that she is the new Sultana. The slave girls put a veil on Dancing Sunbeam. When the Executioner enters to carry out the Sultan's order, he mistakes Dancing Sunbeam for the Sultana and causes Yussuf to be married to her. Both Dancing Sunbeam and Yussuf are unhappy at the result. Hassan, though, is happy to be rid of the overbearing Dancing Sunbeam, although he assumes he has only a few minutes to live. The Vizier announces that the Sultan has relented and will allow the Sultana to offer an explanation. The Sultan is delighted to find that the Executioner divorced and married the wrong woman.

Heart's Desire explains that it was she who wore the Sultana's Royal Ring at Hassan's residence. Rose-in-Bloom is exonerated, but the Sultan decrees that Heart's Desire must die (for impersonating the Sultana), Abdallah must die (for making a false accusation), and Hassan remains condemned (for falsely claiming to have entertained a visit from the Sultana). Rose-in-Bloom begs the Sultan to spare her slave, as Heart's Desire has been telling her an interesting story, and she would like to hear the end of it. Hassan quickly claims to be the source of the story, and so the Sultan says he may live until he finishes telling it – as long as it has a happy ending.

The Sultan gives them a few minutes to compose themselves. Abdallah offers to help tell the story, and Hassan agrees after Abdallah returns the will, which Hassan tears up. None of them can think of an acceptable story, but when the Sultan returns, Hassan hits on an idea. He sings a song about "a small street Arab", and when it is over, he tells the Sultan that it is the story of his own life. Since the Sultan has decreed that it must have a happy ending, it follows that his execution must be cancelled. The Sultan admits that he has been outwitted, but he orders Dancing Sunbeam restored to Hassan, allowing Yussuf to marry Heart's Desire, and all ends happily.

Musical numbers

*Overture (includes: "Hark, the distant roll of drums" and "Hassan, thy pity I entreat")

Act I

*1."As We lie in langour lazy... I'm Abu'l Hassan" (Chorus of Girls [Wives] , with Hassan)
*2. "When Islam first arose" (Abdallah with Girls)
*3. "O Life has put into my hand" (Dancing Sunbeam)
*4. "Sunbeam, the priest keeps saying... If a sudden stroke of fate" (Blush-of-Morning, Dancing Sunbeam, and Abdallah)
*5. "If you ask me to advise you" (Rose-in-Bloom, Scent-of-Lilies, and Heart's Desire)
*6. "'Neath my lattice through the night" (Rose-in-Bloom)
*7. "Tramps and scamps and halt and blind" (Chorus of Beggars and Girls)
*8. "When my father sent me to Ishpahan" (Hassan with Chorus)
*9. "Peace be upon this house... I care not if the cup I hold" (Yussuf with Chorus)
*10. "Musical Maidens are we... Dance and Song (Ensemble, with Chorus and Dancers)
*11. "We have come to invade" (Abdallah with Hassan and Chorus)
*12."The Sultan's Executioner" (Dancing Sunbeam, Rose-in-Bloom, Scent-of-Lillies, Heart's Desire, Honey-of-Life,Yussuf, Hassan, and Abdallah)
*13. "I'm the Sultan's Vigiliant Vizier" (Sultan, Vizier, Physician, and Executioner)
*14. "Oh, luckless hour!" (Company)

Act II

*15. "Oh, What is love?" (Heart's Desire and Yussuf0
*16. "If you or I, should tell the truth" (Scent-of-Lilies, Honey-of-Life, Heart's Desire, and Yussuf)
*17. "From morning prayer" (Physician, Grand Vizier, and Executioner with Chorus)
*18."Let the satirist enumerate a catalogue" (Sultan with Chorus)
*19. "In my heart of my hearts I've always known" (Dancing Sunbeam, with Blush-of-Morning, Honey-of-Life, Heart's Desire, Sultan, Vizier, and Physician)
*20. "Suppose - I say, Suppose" (Rose-in-Bloom and Sultan)
*21 "Laughing low, on Tip-toe" (Hassan, Physician, Vizier, and Executioner with Chorus)
*22 "It's a busy, busy, busy, busy day for thee" (Scent of Lilies, Heart's Desire, Yussuf, Hassan, and Executioner, with Chorus)
*23. "Our tale is told" (Yussuf)
*24. "What does it mean?... Joy and Sorrow Alternate" (Dancing Sunbeam, Blush-of-Morning, Yussuf, and a Royal Guard)
*25. "It has reached me a lady named Hubbard" (Scent-of-Lilies, Honey-of-Life, Heart's Desire, Dancing Sunbeam, Yussuf, Hassan, and Abdallah)
*26. "Hassan, the sultan with his court approaches" (Hassan, Physician, Executioner, Vizier, Sultan, and Chorus)
*27. "There was once a small street arab" (Hassan with Chorus)
*28. "A bridal march" (Company)

External links

* [http://math.boisestate.edu/GaS/rose/index.html "The Rose of Persia" at The Gilbert & Sullivan Archive]
* [http://www.concentric.net/~Oakapple/gasdisc/rp.htm "The Rose of Persia" at The Gilbert & Sullivan Discography]
* [http://math.boisestate.edu/GaS/rose/rose.txt Libretto]
* [http://math.boisestate.edu/GaS/rose/score.html Score]
* [http://math.boisestate.edu/GaS/rose/two_sultanas.html Article on Yaw, Jay and "The Rose of Persia" casting]
* [http://uk.geocities.com/[e-mail]/gallery/rose_of_persia99.htm Photographs of "The Rose of Persia" 1990 production by St David's Players, Exeter, UK]
* [http://www.vlo.org/rop04pgm.html Site describing 2004 amateur production]