Katinka

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Katinka is an operetta in three acts composed by Rudolf Friml to a libretto by Otto Harbach. It was first performed at the Park Theatre in Morristown, New Jersey, on 2 December 1915, and subsequently received its Broadway premiere on 23 December 23, 1915 at the 44th Street Theatre.

Dramatis Personæ

VARENKA (Katinka's maid)	Nina Napier
PETROV (an old servant to Boris)	Albert Sackett
BORIS STROGOFF (Russian ambassador to Austria)	Count Lorrie Grimaldi
KATINKA (his bride)	May Naudain
TATIANA (Katinka's mother)	Norma Mendoza
IVAN DIMITRI (Katinka's sweetheart, an attaché to the Russian ambassador)	Samuel Ash
THADDEUS HOPPER (a wealthy American)	Franklin Ardell

RUSSIAN DANCERS

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Edmund Makalif
May Thompson

HALIF (a Circassian slave trader)	A. Robins
KNOPF (Manager of the Café-Turkois-in-Vienna)	W. J. McCarthy
ABDUL (a harem assistant)	Daniel Baker
ARIF BEY (warden of Izzet Pasha's harem)	Ed. Durand
OLGA (HASHAN) (first wife to Boris)	Edith Decker
MRS. HELEN HOPPER (Thaddeus Hopper's wife)	Adele Rowland
A SPY	Harry Cinton
M. PIERRE (porter at Hôtel Riche, Constantinople)	Gustav Schultz
DANCER	Helen Kroner

MIDI Files

ACT I - Russia.

No. 1 - Opening Chorus - "Give then your tokens tender and true; Keep and guard them ever! ..."
No. 2 - Song - Ivan and Chorus - "If one is looking for the right girl, one who knows the art of soothing head and heart..."
No. 3 - Choral Ensemble - "Welcome the bride with song and anthems of golden cheer, with anthems ringing clear..."
No. 4 - Song - Katinka and Chorus - "I will breathe all the joy of my heart in a song, just a simple song..."
No. 5 - Song - Men's Quartet - "In this ruby cup of wine, Katinka, where the bubbles shine, Katinka..."
No. 6 - Song - Thaddeus and Chorus - "Ev'ry real old Yankee's in a hurry, no matter why or where he is or what he has to do..."
No. 7 - Duet - Katinka and Ivan - "Dear love, the hour of our parting has come at last, for the die has been cast..."
No. 8 - Russian Dance
No. 9 - Finale Act I - "Good-night! Good-night! Good-night! The shadows draw their velvet shawl about love's sweet retreat..."

ACT II - Turkey.

No. 10 - Opening Chorus - "On high in minaret the muezzin cries; from Allah's parapet the imam replies..."
No. 11 - Song - Olga and Girls - "When a little Turkish girl goes walking, folks would think it scandalous and shocking..."
No. 12 - Song and Dance - Helen Hopper and Boys - "I've a picture I keep always near me, yes, always near me, and entre nous..."
No. 13 - Song - Olga - "There 'neath the shades of rose-panoplied walls, where moon-eyed maids woo day-dreams' tender thralls..."
No. 14 - Duet - Mr. and Mrs. Hopper - "Some folks, some quiet glum folks, get married once in all their life..."
No. 15 - Duet - Ivan and Katinka - "No one's near! I am waiting alone, dear! Come, have no fear, for the hour is our own, dear..."
No. 16 - Circassian Dance
No. 17 - Song - Katinka and Chorus - "Just beneath the eaves, 'midst ivy-leaves, a little pigeon dwells..."
No. 18 - Finale Act II - "Why stand you staring like a thing of stone? I tell you I'm declaring the truth, the truth alone..."

ACT III - Austria, just before the war.

No. 19 - Opening Chorus - "In Vienna, in Vienna girls are brightest, their hearts are lightest, their eyes are ever fair..."
No. 19a - Ballet Divertissement
No. 19b - Mignonnette
No. 20 - Song - Helen Hopper and Male Quartette - "They say a woman is a weather vane, a fickle weather vane..."
No. 21 - Skidikiscatch Sextet - "Pay to the order of... How do you spell your name? Make it to cash, with a dash..."
No. 22 - Song and Dance - Helen Hopper and Girls - "If you would know whom to marry, take my advice and be wary..."
No. 23 - Finale Act III - "On my heart I am wearing your photo..." & "Ev'ry night I hear her sing Tweet, tweet!..."

MIDI files

External Links: Katinka at Wikipedia; Katinka at the Guide to Musical Theatre; Vocal Score at IMSLP

American Musical Theatre

Page modified 30 December 2016