y separately published work icon Bulbo : Comic Opera in Three Acts single work   musical theatre   fantasy   opera   - Three acts
Issue Details: First known date: 1892... 1892 Bulbo : Comic Opera in Three Acts
The material on this page is available to AustLit subscribers. If you are a subscriber or are from a subscribing organisation, please log in to gain full access. To explore options for subscribing to this unique teaching, research, and publishing resource for Australian culture and storytelling, please contact us or find out more.

AbstractHistoryArchive Description

Set in the mythical country of Paflagonia, a hundred years in the future (1992), the story revolves around Prince Bulbo, 'the perfect prince,' who visits the court of King Valoroso for the purpose of marrying the latter's daughter Angelica. Valoroso is described as a monarch with a temper of his own. During the festivity's of a state banquet the King becomes intoxicated and makes improper passes at a charming waiting maid, Rosabela. Unfortunately she has previously won the affection of the king's nephew, Prince Giglio. Impetuously he flaws the king with a blow from a warming pan and flees. When the King recovers consciousness he orders the arrest and execution of the prince. Unable to find Giglio the court decides to arrest and execute Prince Bulbo in default. Meanwhile Rosabela is arrested and threatened with torture unless she divulges the whereabouts of her lover. Giglio returns to save Rosabela, at which time thy sing the duet 'By Thy Side, Dearest One.' Upon hearing of Giglio's return King Valoroso falls into a revengeful rage, demanding his guards seize the prince immediately and kill him. In desperation Rosabela summons to her aid her fairy grandmamma, Blackstick, who helps Giglio first escape, and then worst the king in a fight. All ends happily ever after with Valoroso taken prisoner, Giglio then ascends the throne with Rosabela as his queen, and Bulbo marries Angelica.

[Source: Australian Variety Theatre Archive]

Notes

  • H. T. Harrison, who had been managing Her Majesty's Opera House (Brisbane) since the Maggie Moore season (beginning 18 March 1891), presented this 'new and original comic opera' for its Australian premiere as part of a season of comic opera under his own direction. The opening night performance was reviewed as being well received by the audience, although the company "appeared under disadvantages which few visiting companies have to contend against." The Brisbane Courier refers here to the fact that the company was newly formed and that the opera was being staged for the first time. 'They consequently had not the important advantage of having played together before, or the equally weighty advantage of having previously produced the opera.' The critic goes on the note that 'in judging the merit of their first performance, it is only reasonable that these circumstances should be kept in view, for they doubtless operated adversely both upon the production and the impression made upon the public… who showed a marked dispensation to make fair allowance and to applaud unstintedly every part of the performance' (7 August 1892, p.6).

  • The Brisbane Courier critic writes of Harrison's work: "He has used his experience and his musical ability with considerable though not always equal success. His music is light and tuneful. Some of the numbers are pretty and will no doubt win their way to popularity. There is good material in the opera and the fact that the encores were very numerous and even minor numbers were warmly applauded is strong evidence that the audience were pleased with it.

    Apart from the aforementioned duet, other songs known to have been written for the opera were: 'Quaff the Brimming Wine Cup' and 'Cruel to be Kind' (Giglio), 'For Him' and 'Ours the Sweetest Occupation' (Rosabela), 'What Do You Think of the Prince' (Bulbo) and 'Let Me But Hear a Murmur' (King Valoroso).

Production Details

  • 1892: Her Majesty's Opera House, Brisbane; 6-13 August.

    • Director/Stage Manager John Wallace; Producer/Conductor H. T. Harrison.
    • Cast incl. C. M. Leumane (Prince Gigho), Aggie Kelton (Rosaleba), Denbig Newton (King Valoroso), G. Boultan (Prince Bulbo), F. W. Montague (Captain Hedzoff), J. E. Leonard (Archbishop), A. Lynne (Glumboso), John Wallace (Jenkins Gruffanuff), Letty Durand (Angelica), Belle Lindsay (Fairy Blackstuff), George Sims (Countess Gruffanuff), Dorine Lesmore (Mandolina), Florrie Branscombe (Headsman's Daughter).
    • The role of fairies was undertaken by a chorus of little girls, who were under the supervision of Mrs Harrison.
    • The production was advertised to premiere on 3 August, but was postponed until the 6th when Aggie Kelton succumbed to an illness just prior to opening night.

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

      1892 .
      Extent: 14 leaves in various foliationsp.
      Description: Typescript (photocopy).
      (Manuscript) assertion
      Note/s:
      • At head of title: Her Majesty's Opera House.

      Holdings

      Held at: National Archives of Australia National Archives Library

      Holdings

      Held at: University of Queensland University of Queensland Library Fryer Library
      Local Id: H1928
VIEW PUBLICATION DETAILS FOR ALL VERSIONS ()

PeriodicalNewspaper Details

Note:
This entry has been sourced from on-going historical research into Australian-written music theatre being conducted by Dr Clay Djubal.
Last amended 18 Jan 2018 16:28:22
Subjects:
Newspapers:
    Powered by Trove
    X