The Firefly

The Firefly was the first of Friml's Broadway successes, a list that also includes High Jinks (1913), Rose Marie (1924), and The Three Musketeers (1928). Otto Harbach's libretto for The Firefly was originally intended to have music by Victor Herbert as a star vehicle for soprano Emma Trentini, but the two had an artistic falling-out, so impresario Arthur Hammerstein turned to the young Rudolf Friml, who responded with a bright and melodious score that included Giannina mia, Kiss Me, and Sympathy. At the December 2, 1912 premiere, the New York Times noted that encores were demanded for nearly every number and extolled Trentini as a "live wire...who as the Firefly proved herself a whole pyrotechnical show." Friml peaked in the 1920s and did not adapt to the changing musical theatre modes. But he remained a vigorous personality through most of the last century and died in 1972. For more than 25 years, the Ohio Light Opera has been dedicated to producing, promoting and preserving the best of the traditional operetta repertoire. These shows offer the operetta fan a little of everything: both well-known and lesser-known Gilbert and Sullivan, operettas by French, Viennese and American composers, and revivals such as The Firefly. This set includes Friml's complete musical score and most of the spoken dialogue from the 2006 production and will hopefully give the operetta aficionado a good taste of what makes this company unique.