|
| |
|
Title |
|
The Mikado (or The Town of Titipu) |
| Composer |
|
Sir Arthur Sullivan (1842 - 1900) |
| Librettist |
|
William S. Gilbert (1836 - 1911) |
| Genre |
|
Light opera. Two acts. |
|
First performance |
|
Savoy Theatre, London, 14 March, 1885. |
| Time of
action |
|
Before 1885. |
| Place of action |
|
- Titipu, courtyard of
Ko-Ko's official residence.
- Ko-Ko's garden.
|
| Main parts |
|
Nanki-Poo, son of The Mikado,
disguised as a wandering minstrel and in love with Yum-Yum |
tenor |
| |
|
Ko-Ko, Lord High Executioner of
Titipu |
comic tenor or baritone |
| |
|
Pooh-Bah,
Lord High Everything Else |
bass/baritone |
| |
|
Pish-Tush,
a noble lord |
bass |
| |
|
Yum-Yum,
ward of Ko-Ko |
soprano |
| |
|
Pitti-Sing,
ward of Ko-Ko |
soprano |
| |
|
Peep-Bo,
ward of Ko-Ko |
contralto |
| |
|
Katisha,
an elderly lady, in love with Nanki-Poo |
contralto |
| |
|
The Mikado of Japan |
baritone |
|
Prominence of chorus |
|
Large. |
|
Orchestra |
|
2 flutes, 1
oboe, 2 clarinets, 1 bassoon, 2
French horns, 2 trumpets, 2 trombones, kettle-drums,
percussion, strings. |
|
Special demands |
|
None. |
|
Full
score and orchestral parts |
|
Available. |
|
Level |
|
Not difficult |
|
Length |
|
About 2½ hours. Two acts. |
| Music |
|
One long series of charming, cheerful, funny and
brilliant songs, choruses and ensembles. Highlights: the
Three-little-maids-from-school trio; the ingeniously written song in which three men
first sing their tunes separately and then simultaneously; Yum-Yum's poetic
aria, and a truly wonderful madrigal. |
| Story |
|
Nanki-Poo, a wandering minstrel, is in love with Yum-Yum,
ward of Ko-Ko, a tailor. The latter has managed to become the Lord High
Executioner of the town of Titipu and intends to marry Yum-Yum himself.
Actually, Nanki-Poo is the crown prince of Japan, but he does not want to
betray his identity, for fear of Katisha, an elderly lady at court, who is
in love with him. A letter arrives announcing that the Mikado will visit the
town and demands a beheading to take place within a month. Nanki-Poo offers
himself as a victim on condition that Yum-Yum shall be his wife until the
execution. Ko-Ko accepts and there is general rejoicing, suddenly disturbed
by Katisha, who claims her beloved. Strange developments follow, in
accordance with librettist Gilbert's method: the perfectly serious treatment
of perfectly absurd subjects. In the end Yum-Yum and Nanki-Poo are happily
united and Ko-Ko is forced to marry Katisha.
|
|
Costumes |
|
Japanese. Schoolgirls and
noblemen. |
|
