The Carp (opera)
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The Carp is a one-act comic opera (styled "a whimsicality") with a libretto by Frank Desprez and music by Alfred Cellier. It was first produced at the Savoy Theatre from 11 or 13 February 1886 to 19 January 1887, as a companion piece to The Mikado. It was then revived as companion to Ruddigore from 21 February 1887 to 5 November 1887.
No printed libretto or vocal score is found in British Library. A copy of the libretto is in the Lord Chamberlain's collection. The piece also toured throughout 1888. As the score is lost, modern amateur productions have played the piece with original scores.[1]
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[edit] Synopsis
In a charming rural 17th Century setting, near a stream and rustic bridge, Piscator enters ready for a quiet day's fishing. He is interrupted by Amandus, who is bent on committing suicide by throwing himself into the river. Piscator, upset, relates that he has spent his entire life trying to catch a particular carp in this part of the river. If Amandus throws himself in, he will disturb the carp and put at an end to a lifetime of work. Amandus tells Piscator of his love affair, but promises to wait till after 6.30 before drowning himself, for by that time the carp will have retired. Amanda now enters, and she too is bent on committing suicide by throwing herself into the river, also for hopeless love. Piscator persuades her also to wait, and then goes off, having seen the carp nibble at his line further up the bank. Amandus and Amanda are left together, and when Amanda tells Amandus that she is proposing to drown herself, Amandus notes that he has already claimed the pool for that purpose. It turns out that Amandus's love is Clorinda, Amanda's "dearest friend." Amanda runs down her friend and shows Amandus a letter that Clorinda has written her, in which Clorinda gives a very unflattering profile of Amandus. The conversation continues, and Amanda learns that her love, Corydon, is Amandus's best friend, and that Corydon had given Amanda's ring to Amandus to pay off a gambling debt. Corydon had some equally unflattering things to say about Amanda. By this time both are cured of their former loves and newly in love with each other, so when Piscator returns, he finds that no one wishes to commit suicide after all.
[edit] Musical numbers
- No. 1 - The Fisherman, at the Break of Day
- No. 2 - I Loved Her!
- No. 3 - Why does azure deck the sky?
- No. 4 - It's really very hard
- No. 5 - My heart is doubly broken! -- Mem'ries
- No. 6 - Finale - Mem'ries
[edit] Cast information
The original cast was:
At the end of July 1886, Amandus was taken over by Charles Wilbraham. In September 1896, Rose Hervey took over the role of Amanda and sometimes shared the part with Miss Lindsay. After The Mikado closed, J. M. Gordon took over the role of Piscator.
