MELODY
Music by Sigmund Romberg Lyrics by Irving Caesar
This is the world premiere recording of an unknown 1933 musical by the great master of American operetta, Sigmund Romberg. More sophisticated in its musical stylings than anything the composer had done before, Melody is chock full of tunes, including the irresistibly catchy and rousing chorus “Give Me a Roll on a Drum.” The multi-generational story is reminiscent of Romberg’s Maytime.
CD 1 – ACT I: The stately Paris mansion of Count Gustave de Nemours, 1881
1 Prelude (Scene 1)
2 Our Little Lady Upstairs
Leon, Mariette, Tristan, Chorus
3 Incidental
4 Melody
Andrée, Tristan, Leon, François
5 Incidental
Chorus
6 I’d Write a Song
Tristan
7 Finaletto
Andrée, Tristan
8 Change of Scene (Scene 2)
9 Ballet
10 Incidental (Scene 3)
11 Good Friends Surround Me
Andrée, Pierre, Tristan, Chorus
12 On to Africa (Scene 4)
François, Lazare, Men
13 Finale (Scene 5)
Andrée, Tristan
14 You Are the Song
Andrée, Tristan
CD 2 – ACT II: Scene 1: The terrace of the Nemours’ château, near Lille, 1906
1 Entr’acte
2 Fashion Parade
3 Tea Number
Max, Pierre, Gustave
4 Incidental
5 In My Garden
Andrée
6 Incidental
7 Rendez-vous
Eugenie, Pierre, Gustave
8 Pompadour
Eugenie, François
9 Finaletto
Andrée, Ninon
Scenes 2 – 3: Universal Radio Building, New York, 1933
10 Melody (Reprise)
George, Radio Announcer
11 Never Had an Education
Phoebe, Girls
12 Incidental
13 Incidental
14 Musical Interlude
George, François, (Phoebe)
15 Vision Scene
Andrée, Tristan
Scene 4 – 8: A street and a restaurant in Paris, a week later
16 The Whole World Loves
Ensemble
17 Change of Scene (Scene 5)
18 Give Me a Roll on a Drum
Paula, Chorus
19 Dance
20 Tonight May Never Come Again
Paula, George
21 Tonight May Never Come Again (Reprise) (Scene 6)
Paula, George
22 Scene Change (Scene 7)
23 Scene Change (Scene 8)
24 Finale Ultimo
Ensemble