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Rhapsody is an operetta in 2 Acts by Fritz Kreisler (music) and John La Touche (lyrics) with a book by Arnold Sundgaard and Leonard Louis Levinson that is based on an original story by A. N. Nagler.[1] The music from the operetta is taken mainly from Kreisler's 1932 Austrian-language operetta Sissy and from his large collection of works for violin and piano; with only a relatively small portion of new music by Kreisler being added to the operetta's score.[2] While La Touche was the primary lyricist, playwright Blevins Davis and American composer Robert Russell Bennett also contributed some lyrics.[3] Additionally, Davis was the operetta's producer (along with the New York socialite Lorraine Manville Dresselhuys), and Bennett was the orchestrater of Kreisler's music which was originally scored for piano.[4] The Austrian conductor Fritz Mahler served as the production's music director.[1]
Opening at the New Century Theatre on Broadway on November 22, 1944, Rhapsody is set within the court of Roman Emperor Francis I and Empress Maria Theresa. The operetta was directed and choreographed by Russian-American ballet dancer David Lichine; who had achieved fame as a leading artist with The Royal Ballet in London and as a choreographer in Hollywood films.[5] The production boasted highly expensive and elaborate sets designed by Tony Award winning designer Oliver Smith; with a production value of $300,000.00[6] Frank Bevan designed the production's costumes and Stanley McCandless served as lighting designer.[3] While critics praised the music and the singing of the show's leads, reviews of the operetta's written dialogue were universally bad; and the show was widely mocked in the press as a result.[6][3][4][1] The play closed on December 2, 1944, after just 14 performances which proceeded 8 additional performances given in previews; making it one of the most expensive flops on Broadway at the time that it closed.[6]
Role | Voice type | Premiere cast, 22 November 1944[1] |
---|---|---|
Empress Maria Theresa | soprano | Annamary Dickey |
Emperor Francis I | baritone | George Young |
Madame Boticini | soprano | Rosemarie Brancato |
Charles Eckert | tenor | John Hamill |
Lotzi Hugenhaugen | comic tenor | John Cherry |
Lili Hugenhaugen | soprano | Gloria Story |
Frau Tina Hugenhaugen | contralto | Bertha Belmore |
Captain of the Guard | bass-baritone | Randolph Symonette |
Ilse Bonen | dance role | Patricia Bowman |
Casanova | comic role | Eddie Mayehoff |
Ivan | dance role | George Zoritch |
Sonya | dance role | Alexandra Denisova |
Demi-Tasse | Mister Johnson | |
Maid | Mildred Jocelyn | |
Rickshaw Man | Nicolas Berizoff | |
The Dandy | Jerry Ross | |
Jailer | Robert W. Kirkland | |
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