El Capitan (operetta)

"El Capitan" is an operetta in three acts by John Philip Sousa and has a libretto by Charles Klein (with lyrics by Charles Klein and Tom Frost). The piece was Sousa's first successful operetta and his most successful stage work.

"El Capitan" was first produced at the Tremont Theatre in Boston, beginning on April 13, 1896. After this tryout, it transferred to The Broadway Theatre in New York on April 20 1896, where it ran for 112 performances, starring DeWolf Hopper, Edna Wallace Hopper, John Parr, and Alfred Klein. It was then toured almost continuously for four years in the United States and Canada. It was produced at the Lyric Theatre in London beginning on July 10 1899, where it ran for 140 performances. Thereafter, the operetta was produced numerous times internationally and remained popular for some time.

"El Capitan" also refers to the march of the same name, composed of themes from the operetta. This march is like other operetta marches (1897's "Bride Elect", 1900's "Man Behind the Gun", and 1906's "Free Lance") with its use of both 6/8 (parts A & B) and 2/4 (parts C & D) sections. Also like the Bride Elect and the Man Behind the Gun this march has an introduction between part C and D. It follows style IAABBCCIDD.

Roles

*Don Errico Medigua (baritone)
*Estrelda (soprano)
*Graf Hernan de Verrada (tenor)
*Isabel (soprano)

ynopsis

Don Enrico Medigua, the viceroy of Spain-occupied Peru, fears assassination by rebels. After he secretly has the rebel leader El Capitan killed, he disguises himself as El Capitan. Estrelda, the former viceroy's daughter, impressed by tales of El Capitan's daring, falls in love with the disguised Medigua, who is already married. Meanwhile, Medigua's wife and daughter search for him, and the rebels capture the Lord Chamberlain, mistaking him for the viceroy.

Medigua leads the hapless rebels against the Spaniards, taking them in circles until they are too tired to fight. The Spaniards win, the mistaken identities are revealed, the love stories are untangled, and the story ends happily.

Musical numbers

Prelude;Act I
*Chorus: "Nobles of Castilian birth."
*Recitative and Solos: "Oh, beautiful land of Spain."
*Recitative Solo and Chorus: "From Peru's majestic mountains."
*Chorus: "Don Medigun, all for thy coming wait."
*Solo and Chorus: "If you examine human kind."
*Melodrama
*Solo and Chorus: "When we hear the call for battle."
*Solo and Chorus: "Oh, spare a daughter."
*Chorus: "Lo, the awful man approaches."
*Solo and Chorus: "You see in me."
*Finale Act I - "Bah! Bahl"

;Act II
*Introduction
*Solo and Chorus: "Ditty of the Drill!"
*Solo and Chorus: "Behold El Capitan".
*Duet: "I've a most decided notion."
*Double Chorus and Solo: "Bowed with tribulation."
*Recitative Solo and Chorus: "Oh, Warrior Grim."
*Sextette: "Don Medigun, here's your wife."
*Finale Act II - "He can not, must not, shall not."

;Act III
*Intoduction, Duet and Refrain: "Sweetheart, I'm waiting."
*Song: "When some serious affliction."
*Ditty: "The typical tune of Zanzibar."
*Chorus and Entrance of Spanish troops
*Finale. "We beg your kind consideration."

References

* [http://www.musicaltheatreguide.com/composers/sousa/elcapitain.htm Information from Musicaltheatreguide.com]
* [http://skyways.lib.ks.us/orgs/mcb/Library/O0747.htm Note on "El Capitan"]
* [http://www.cantoncomicoperaco.com/ Images and historical information about "El Capitan" from Canton Comic Opera Co.]
* [http://www.flyrope.com/sections/shows/score.php?var=100001333 Information from Flyrope.com]

External links

* [http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/dgkeysearchresult.cfm?parent_id=502046&word= Photos from "El Capitan"]