Wizard of the Nile
A Comic Opera in 3 Acts. Libretto by Harry B. Smith. Music by Victor Herbert.
Casino Theatre, New York - 4th November, 1895 - 1 February, 1896 (105 perfs)
Harlem Opera House - 17 February, 1896 (8 perfs)
Harlem Opera House - 28 September, 1896 (8 perfs)
Synopsis
Drought plagues the land of Egypt. However, a magician with an eye to the main chance, Kibosh, offers to bring rain. He does. Unfortunately he was too successful as the rain will not stop. Flooding on a disastrous scale follows.
The King orders Kibosh to be sealed in a tomb, only to find his zealous courtiers has sealed him in as well. He is so grateful to escape alive that in his enthusiasm, he pardons Kibosh.
Meanwhile we learn of a romantic encounter by Cleopatra with a musician, Ptarmigan. However, the lovers go their separate ways as Cleopatra settles down to await the arrival of Mark Antony.
Musical Numbers
ACT 1
- "Father Nile, Keep Us in Thy Care" (Opening Chorus) - Boatmen, Water-carriers
- "Song of the Optimist" (Duet and Chorus) - Obeliska, Cheops, Chorus
- "Strew the Way with Flow'rets Blooming" (Oriental March) - Almehs (Dancing Girls), Amazons
- "I am the Ruler" (Duet with Chorus) - Ptolemy, Simoona, Chorus
- "That's One Thing a Wizard Can Do" (Solo with Chorus) - Kibosh, Chorus
- "Pure and White Is the Lotus" Chorus
- "I Have Been A-Maying" (Solo with Chorus) - Cleopatra, Chorus
- "What Is Love?" (Duet) - Kibosh, Cleopatra
- "When the Bugles Are Calling" (Solo) - Ptarmigan
- "Bang, Bang, the Most Harmonious Song" - Chorus
- "Incantation" - Simoona, Chorus
- "A Cheer for Kibosh" (Finale Act 1) - Principals, Chorus
ACT 2
- "List to Our Matin Serenade" (Opening Serenade) - Abydos, Cheops, Pages
- "If I Were a King" (Duet) - Ptarmigan, Cleopatra
- "On Cleopatra's Wedding Day" (Quintette) - Cleopatra, Abydos, Simoona, Ptolemy, Cheops
- "My Angeline" (Song of the Human Snake) - Kibosh, Chorus
- Finale Act 2 - Principals, Chorus
ACT 3
- "Stonecutters' Song" (Work Away with a Song, My Boys) - Ptarmigan, Chorus
- "In Dreamland" (Solo) Cleopatra
- "Star Light, Star Bright" (Waltz Quintette) - Abydos, Simoona, Kibosh, Cheops, Kibosh
- "To the Pyramid" (Pages' Chorus) - Abydos, Chorus
- "The Echo Song" (Duet and Chorus) - Kibosh, Ptolemy, Chorus of Pages
- Finale Act 3 - Principals, Chorus
CAST:
- Kibosh, a Persian magician, making a professional tour of Egypt:
- Abydos, his apprentice
- Ptolemy, King of Egypt
- Simoona, Ptolemy's second wife
- Cleopatra, a princess who knows naught of love
- Ptarmigan, Cleopatra's music teacher
- Cheops, the royal weather bureau
- Obeliska, captain of the Amazons
- Netocris, lieutenant of the Amazons
- Merza, first maid-of-honour to Cleopatra
Royal Guards, Nobles, Citizens, Pages, Maids-of-Honour, Dancing Girls, Galley Slaves, etc.
Scenes and settings
The action takes place in ancient Egypt.
Act 1: Public Square in Alexandria.
Act 2: Terraced roof of the King's palace.
Act 3: Interior of the King's private pyramid.