The Two Roses is a comic opera with libretto, based on She Stoops to Conquer by Oliver Goldsmith, by Stanislaus Stange and score by Ludwig Engländer. It opened at the Broadway Theatre, New York on 21 November 1904 where it closed after just 29 performances.

Dramatis Personæ

MIDI Files

ACT I   -   Farmer Knight's Apple Orchard.

• No. 1 - Prelude and Opening Ensemble - "'Tis the hour!  'Tis the hour!  We wait for our sweethearts, our sweetheats they go to the fair.  They are not there..."
• No. 2 - Song - Susan - "Captain Jack of the Fusileers, beloved of all the 'pretty dears', was oft the cause of sighs and tears, such a handsome chap was he ..."
• No. 3 - Song - Tom, Susan and Octet - "All girls who trust this doctor just, need fear no treatment rash;  I give no pills, for all their ills, I recommend a 'mash' ..."
• No. 4 - Trio - Mr. & Mrs. Oldfield and Ferdinand - "Yachts may be slow, with largest of sails, no matter how large they may be.   Dogs that are short ..."
• No. 5 - Song - Philip - "'Tis the lace on the skirt of a frivolous flirt,  'tis hid in the curls of all pretty young girls,  'tis all that is vain in the feminine brain..."
• No. 6 - Ensemble and Entrance of Rose - "'Tis the hour! ... 'Tis the hour! ... They're late, I fear! ... No!  No!  They are here. ... Fairest of roses, roses, roses..."
• No. 7 - Quartet - Rose, Jane, Philip and Tom - "They who tarry oft are late, no joy can come too soon.  It is most surely tempting fate to slight today's high noon."
• No. 8 - Duet - Rose and Philip - "A kiss is just nothing divided by two, a something that you all alone cannot do.  It suffices for two, deficient for three..."
• No. 9 - Song - Ferdinand and Chorus - "There's not a thing I would not do for her I love, and so would you;  most anything, it's really so, and that's the truth..."
• No. 10 - Song - Rose - "For wealth and rank I do not long, such things are false and vain;  nor can compare with Love's sweet song, sung by a simple swain..."
• No. 11 - Finale Act I - "Ding, dong, ding, dong, ringing of the bells!  Ding, dong, ding, dong, happiness foretells, for our Rose we pray blessing on the day..."

ACT II   -   Squire Oldfield's House.

• No. 12 - Entrée Act and Opening Ensemble - "Sing hey!  Sing ho!  Her welcome was most hearty,  Sing hey!  Sing ho!  For fair Queen Rose's party..."
• No. 13 - Song - Tom and Chorus - "The Hindoo Vulcan Twashitree, while he was making man, exhausted his materials ere woman he began..."
• No. 14 - Song - Rose and Chorus - "Now once there lived a maiden fair and her given name was Mary ... Mary, Mary, sweet Mary! ..."
• No. 15 - Trio - Ferdinand, Philip and Squire - "Kitty, white and silken haired, had lovers by the score, but till Sir Thomas Tilescrapper arrived from Manx's shore..."
• No. 16 - Duet - Rose and Philip - "Tell me, answer truly, do you think that you could love me? ... I might try!   I might try! ..."
• No. 17 - Song - Susan and Chorus - "'Tis foolish to say that we can ... can ... be happy without a young man ... man; ... no girlie alive unmarried can thrive..."
• No. 18 - Song - Rose - "Three tiny words form a key, form a key to the heart, though they mean little when they are apart..."
• No. 19 - Song - Philip - "'Twas in sweet scented Maytime, and the birds on ev'ry tree were singing gaily in the light a summer jubilee..."
• No. 20 - Song - Ferdinand - "Why does a man entreat and implore for one little kiss, and take half a score, then from that lady requires no more,   Why? ..."
• No. 21 - Finale Act II - "Should I sing songs of love to him?  Should I wait till the light be dim?  Should I greet you, saying, What a pleasure? ..."

MIDI Files

External Link

Vocal Score at Musopen

American Musical Theatre

Page modified 7 May 2017