King's Rhapsody
| King's Rhapsody | |
|---|---|
| Music | Ivor Novello |
| Lyrics | Christopher Hassall |
| Book | Ivor Novello |
| Productions | London 1949 |
King's Rhapsody is a musical with book and music by Ivor Novello and lyrics by Christopher Hassall.
The musical was first produced at the Palace Theatre, London, on 15 September 1949 and ran for 841 performances, surviving its author, who died in 1951.[1] It starred Novello in the title role of the heir to the throne under pressure from his long-lived mother, Queen Elana, to abdicate in favour of his infant son,[1] with Phyllis Dare as his mistress Marta Karillos, Zena Dare as Queen Elana, Vanessa Lee as Princess Cristiane, Robert Andrews as Vanescu, and Olive Gilbert as Countess Vera.
A 1955 film adaptation was made, starring Errol Flynn.[2]
Musical numbers
- The Dancing Lesson
- Birthday Greetings
- Someday My Heart Will Awake
- National Anthem
- Fly Home, Little Heart
- Mountain Dove
- If This Were Love
- The Mayor of Perpignan
- The Gates of Paradise
- Take Your Girl
- The Violin Began to Play
- Muranian Rhapsody (Ballet)
- Coronation Hymn
- The Years Together, theme from the score, used as a number in the film version.
Notes
- ^ a b Simon Callow (August 3, 2012). "Ivor Novello, master of the musical". The Guardian. Retrieved August 4, 2012.
- ^ Information about the 1955 film of King's Rhapsody
References
- Profile of the musical at the Guide to Musical Theatre
- Traubner, Richard. Operetta: A Theatrical History (2003), Routledge ISBN 0-415-96641-8