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The Fencing Master is an Opéra-Comique in 3 Acts with music by Reginald de Koven and lyrics by Harry B. Smith which opened at the Casino Theatre, New York on 14 November 1892 where it ran for 120 performances.
Dramatis Personæ
| FRANCESCA (Torquato's daughter, brought up as a boy) | Miss Marie Tempest |
| TORQUATO (Fencing Master of the Milanese Court) | Mr. William Broderick |
| PASQUINO (Private Astrologer to the Duke) | Mr. Jerome Sykes |
| GALEAZZO VISCONTI (Duke of Milan) | Mr. Charles Hopper |
| COUNT GUIDO MALESPINA | Mr. F. Michelena |
| FILIPPA (the Duke's Ward) | Miss Grace Golden |
| THE MARCHESA DI GOLDONI | Mrs. Pemberton-Hincks |
| THERESA (daughter of a Milanese money-lender) | Miss Bessie Cleveland |
| PIETRO (an Innkeeper) | Miss Agnes Sherwood |
| MICHAELE STENO (Doge of Venice) | Mr. Henry Leoni |
| RINALDO (Captain of the Doge's Guards) | Mr. J. A. Furey |
| A GONDOLIER | Mr. George Mackenzie |
| FORTUNIO (rightful heir to the ducal throne) | Mr. Hubert Wilke |
ACT I - Milan.
- No. 1 - Opening Chorus and Tarantella - "Under thy window I wait. Haste, love, to me, for the hour is late..."
- No. 2 - Duet - Theresa, Pasquino and Chorus - "Oh, listen! and in verse I will relate the sort of maid the Duke desires to mate..."
- No. 3 - Song - Fortunio - "The life or a rover is all very well, it's a very fair kind of a life in its way..."
- No. 4 - Scene, Ensemble and Entrance Song - Francesca - "What noise is that? What can it be? 'Tis surely herald of a fight!..."
- No. 4a - Chorus - "Hark! the cathedral chimes pealing..."
- No. 5 - Habanera and Quintet - Francesca, Filippa, Marchesa, Guido and Fortunio - "True love is a gem so fair and rare..."
- No. 6 - Waltz Quintet - Francesca, Filippa, Marchesa, Guido and Fortunio - "Lady fair, I must decline..."
- No. 7 - Chorus and Entrance - Duke and Pasquino - "See in pomp the Duke appears; he expects the public cheers..."
- No. 8 - Money-Lenders' Chorus, with Duke and Pasquino - "I play all games of chance, howe'er insidious..."
- No. 9 - Finale Act I - "Now the Ducal wedding fète we impatiently await. He comes..."
ACT II - The Piazetta, Venice.
- No. 10 - Opening Chorus and Barcarolle - "O-hè! O-hè! Ah! Over the moonlit waves we glide..."
- No. 11 - Marinesca - Filippa, Francesca, Marchesa, Duke and Fortunio - "Oh! come my love, the stars are bright..."
- No. 12 - Song - Fortunio - "Ev'ry knight must have a star, leading him on, leading him on to the glory of war..."
- No. 13 - Serenade - Duke - "Singing a serenade is no light task, I vow; it is a knack that many lack, but I know how..."
- No. 14 - Solo and Chorus - Torquato and Bravos - "Giacomo! Michel Angelo! Savonarola! Rafael! ..."
- No. 15 - Song - Francesca - "When the moon its radiance throws o'er lake and vale..."
- No. 16 - Duet - Francesca and Fortunio - "Ah, yes, I love thee, have loved thee in all of the bygone years..."
- No. 17 - March and Chorus - "See! in pomp and pride, our mighty, mighty Doge is drawing near, claiming his bride..."
- No. 18 - Finale Act II - "Bucentoro! Bucentoro draws near. It is here. Bucentoro now approaches..."
ACT III - The Marchesa's Villa near Venice.
- No. 19 - Carnival Scene - Filippa and Chorus - "Hola! Hola! Hola! To the fête! Come we all to the merry wedding fête!"
- No. 20 - Duet and Chorus - Duke, Pasquino and Bravos - "We are very poor musicians. Zum, zum, zum, zum..."
- No. 21 - Serenade - Marchesa and Cavaliers - "Wild bird that singeth from yon shaded bower, what says thy music..."
- No. 22 - Will-o'-the-wisp Song - Francesca - "Trav'ler wandering wearily in a starless night..."
- No. 23 - Duet - Francesca and Fortunio - "Dwells an image in my heart; It never will depart; One true love I own..."
- No. 24 - Finale Act III - "I will return to thee, home of mine, e'en were thine azure skies less divine..."
MIDI files
- External Links
- Vocal Score at IMSLP
- The Fencing Master at The Guide to Musical Theatre
Page modified 1 December 2016