Sweethearts

An Operetta in Two Acts
Music by Victor Herbert
Book by Harry B. Smith & Fred De Gresac
Lyrics by Robert B. Smith

Argument

The story of the opera is founded on the adventures of Princess Jeanne, daughter of King Rene of Naples, who reigned in the Fifteenth Century. The time has been changed to the present, and the locale to the ancient city of Bruges, to which the little princess is carried for safety in time of war, and is given the name of Sylvia. As an infant she is found in a tulip garden one morning by Dame Paula, who conducts the laundry of the White Geese and who is known as Mother Goose. Sylvia is brought up as the daughter of Paula, although the latter has six daughters of her own, known as the White Geese. To the laundry comes Mikel Mikeloviz, who, disguised as a monk, left Sylvia when an infant in Dame Paula’s care. Knowing that Sylvia is the Crown Princess of the little Kingdom of Zilania, Mikle is conspiring to restore her to the throne, which is about to be offered to Franz, the Heir Presumptive, who, traveling incognito, has fallen in love with Sylvia, and who finds a rival in Lieutenant Karl, a military Lothario, betrothed to Sylvia. Mikel’s plans are endangered by the schemes of Hon. Percy Algernon Slingsby, Petrus Van Tromp and Aristde Caniche, who wish to purchase for their own purposes, Prince Franz’s estates in Zilania. Liane, a milliner, has sought temporary employment in the laundry of the White Geese, and his mistaken by Mikel and Slingsby for the lost Princess. Sylvia finds that Karl is untrue to her and is making love to Liane, so, to please Dame Paula and to repay the debt she owes to her, Sylvia consents to marry Franz, although she feels that she cannot love him as she did her old sweetheart.

In Act Two, after Sylvia has been in a convent for a year, she is presented as the fiancée of the Prince to the court of Zilania. Complications arise when Mikel, Slingsby, Van Tromp and Caniche each disguises himself as the monk who abducted the princess, but just as the crown is offered to Franz, Dame Paula identifies Sylvia as the lost Princess instead of Liane. Sylvia is willing to renounce her claim to the throne, but she and Franz agree to rule jointly. Liane accepts Karl and all ends well in the typical light opera manner.

History

Sweethearts opened on Broadway at the New Amsterdam Theatre on September 8, 1913 and ran 136 performances. It was revived on Broadway in 1929 and again in 1947, starring comedian Bobby Clark and running 288 performances. The 1938 Technicolor film staring Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy retained some of Herbert’s score, but discarded the plot. Sweethearts is one of Victor Herbert’s most popular operettas. His masterful score includes “Every Lover Must Meet His Fate,” “Pretty as a Picture,” and “Sweethearts.”

The New York Times: “Herbert music again has charms..provides pleasure for both eye and ear.”

Orchestration

Flute 1
Flute 2 (doubles Piccolo)
Oboe
Clarinet 1 (in B-flat and A)
Clarinet 2 (in B-flat and A)
Bassoon
Horn 1
Horn 2
Trumpet 1
Trumpet 2
Trombone
Percussion (2 Players: Timpani, Chimes, Bells, Xylophone, Snare Drum,
Bass Drum & Cymbals, Triangle, Wood Block, Suspended Cymbal)
Violin 1
Violin 2
Viola
Cello
Bass
Harp

Authors