The Serenade is an operetta with music and lyrics by Victor Herbert, and book by Harry B. Smith. It was produced by a troupe called "The Bostonians", receiving its premiere on Broadway on 16 March 1897 at the Knickerbocker Theatre and ran initially for 79 performances. It remained very popular into the new century, running almost continuously for the next seven years.

Dramatis Personæ

MIDI Files

• Overture

ACT I   -   The main office of the Royal Madrid Brigandage Association Ltd.,
near a haunted castle in the mountains.

• No. 1a - Opening Chorus - "In attitudes alert!  Hist!  Hush!  With keen and piercing eyes..."
• No. 1b - Song - Romero and Chorus - "Let spiritless townsmen bend the neck to the yoke of the country's law..."
• No. 2 - Chorus and Song - Alvarado - "Peering left and peering right with very anxious scrutiny..."
• No. 3 - Duke's Entrance and Song - "Hola-ho! ..." and "Although a Duke of high degree whose ancestors are numerous..."
• No. 4 - Duo - Alvarado and Dolores - "When the theatre was brightest with the golden glare..."
• No. 5 - Entrance and Singing Lesson - Yvonne, Colombo and Gomez - "The old Italian Method grand is what we practice..."
• No. 6 - Duet - Lopez and Yvonne - "Gaze on this face, so noble, so serene;  look in these eyes how radiant are they..."
• No. 7 - Finale Act I - "'Tis time our work to do.  Hist! Hush!  Hist! Hush!  Our presence they shall rue..."

ACT II   -   The garden of the Monastery of St. Benedict,
adjoining the Convent School of St. Ursula.

• No. 8 - Opening Chorus of Monks and Novices - "In our quiet cloister, monkish brethren dwell, peaceful as an oyster..."
• No. 9 - Song - Yvonne and Monks - "Where are the stars so brightly twinkling as in fair Andalusia? ..."
• No. 10 - Song - Romero and Male Chorus - "When I went my rounds one day, seeking charity, charity, charity..."
• No. 11a - Ensemble - "Who can this be?  We'll stay and see, with worldly curiositee! ..."
• No. 11b - Song - Duke and Chorus - "Who was it in Eden encountered the snake?  Woman, attractive woman ..."
• No. 12 - The Angelus - Dolores and Chorus - "The Angelus sounds from the convent bells like a dear voice low and tender..."
• No. 13 - Waltz Song - Yvonne - "Cupid once found me a-dreaming, lulled by the soft summer breeze..."
• No. 14 - Monks' Chant - "I love thee, I adore thee, O my heart, life, and soul, all are thine..."
• No. 15 - Scene and Quartet - Alvarado, Dolores, Yvonne and Romero - "I'm sure 'tis she!  Just wait!  I'll see..."
• No. 16 - Finale Act II - "Dishonor most appalling, and terrible disgrace are threatening the falling of this monastic place..."

ACT III   -   The same as Act I.

• Entr'acte
• No. 17 - Opening Chorus - "Here merrily bide the bandit tribe when the day's honest work is done..."
• No. 18 - Duet - Dolores, Alvarado and Chorus - "Don José of Sevilla was a gay roué, acting parts, breaking hearts..."
• No. 19 - Romance - Lopez - "I envy the bird within its cage, whose song to her is not denied..."
• No. 20 - Trio - Duke, Yvonne and Gomez - "One afternoon while dozing, my eyes a moment closing..."
• No. 21 - Finale Act III - "Take your choice, my Dolores, marry whom you will! ..."

 MIDI files

The MIDI Files are also available in MIDI Karaoke format [zip file] which allows you to follow the lyrics when
played on the free VanBasco Karaoke Player.

External Links

The Serenade at Wikipedia

Vocal Score at IMSLP

American Musical Theatre

Page modified 9 March 2017