COGBLOG

Articles of current interest will appear on this site. Please visit: comicoperaguild.org/cogblog

COG RESEARCH ONGOING FOR 2012

In keeping with its program of bringing unknown shows back to light, the Guild has gathered materials for a long list of shows that need rescuing from the dusty shelves. They include:

Apple Blossoms - Krisler

Blue Paradise - Romberg

Florodora - Stuart

You're in Love - Friml

The Devil's In It - Balfe

Light Cavalry - Suppe

and many others.

Finding complete materials, especially dialog, can be a daunting task, as most of them are in the depths of libraies, often uncatalogued. For this reason, any production schedule can be dependent on the luck of finding what we need.

Funding has been obtained from the Victor Herbert Foundation to add two more shows by Victor Herbert to our recorded collection. Both shows will require restoration by Adam Aceto, whose efforts spearheaded the program to resurrect the entire Herbert canon. They will be recorded in late spring.

COG VIDEOS ON DISPLAY

The Comic Opera Guild first began recording its performances on videotape in 1981. For many years these were made by volunteers, doing the best they could to capture the show. Although the results were inconsistent until the mid-90, there were enough good “moments” that the Guild decided to share them with the world.

These moments in operetta are now available on YouTube. It’s amazing what can be seen there if you know where to look. If you go to the MUSIC section, you can find clips from everything from a one man band to the Metropolitan Opera. Comic Opera Guild has established what can be called a “channel,” with more than 80 clips from past shows. More are being added all the time. YouTube even has a function to alert viewers when something new is added to a favorite channel.

Generally, we won’t put a video on YouTube unless the sound quality is good. We always made high quality sound recordings of every show (which are now available from us on CD) and would send the sound feed to the camera(s) whenever the equipment could handle it. We tried to avoid sound miking at the camera, but it wasn’t always possible. Tapings in which the camera work relegated the performers to indistinguishable ants with disembodied voices are likewise avoided. This is why you’ll never see all of our shows on YouTube.

To peruse Comic Opera Guild’s offerings, simply go to Google and enter “youtube.” Once on YouTube, do a search for “comic opera guild” and voila! The riches are laid before you.

THE GRAND DUCHESS OF GEROLSTEIN– 2011

• OPENING • PIFF-PAFF-POUF • HOW I GO FOR THE MLITARY • THE NEWSPAPER SONG • FINALE ACT 1 (including the Saber Song) • THE LETTER CHORUS • FRITZ' RONDO • THE CONSPIRACY TRIO • FRITZ' RETURN and FINALE

SALLY– 2010

• YOU CAN'T KEEP A GOOD GIRL DOWN • LOOK FOR THE SILVER LINING • THE SCHNITZA KOMISKI • THE WHIPPOORWILL • LEI LEI WI • NERVES • THE CHURCH 'ROUND THE CORNER • FINALE

ORANGE BLOSSOMS— 2009

• A KISS IN THE DARK  • IN HENNEQUEVILLE  • THEN COMES THE DAWNING  • OLD NEW YORK  • I MIGHT BE YOUR ONCE IN A WHILE  • BING, BING  • FINALE

THE FORTUNE TELLER—2008

• SIGNOR MULDONI  • CZARDAS  • SLUMBER ON  • HUNGARIA’S HUSSARS • THE LOST DUET • FINALE

PIRATES OF PENZANCE – 2007

• WITH CATLIKE TREAD • FINALE, ACT 1 • FINALE, ACT 2 • WHEN THE FOEMAN BARES HIS STEEL • OH IS THERE NOT ONE MAIDEN • POOR WAND'RING ONE • OH BETTER FAR TO LIVE AND DIE • A POLICEMAN’S LOT • WHEN FREDERICK WAS A LITTLE LAD • SIGHING SOFTLY TO THE RIVER

DIE FLEDERMAUS—2004, 1995, 1990

• ADELE’S PRATFALL • ACT 1 TRIO • ACT 1 FINALE • FRANK'S MELODRAMA • CHACUN A SON GOUT • WATCH DUET  • FROSCH 

BABES IN TOYLAND– 2004, 1990

• CASTLE IN SPAIN • BEFORE AND AFTER • I CAN’T DO THE SUM • FLORETTA • KISS ME AGAIN • SONG OF THE POET • TOYLAND • THE TOYMAKER’S WORKSHOP

THE MARRIAGE CONTRACT—2003

• TELL ME AGAIN • SLOOK’S ENTRANCE • ACT 1 TRIO • HOW TO KEEP SILENT? • FINALE

THE MAGIC FLUTE— 2002, 1992

• OPENING SCENE • THE BIRD COLLECTOR • QUEEN’S ARIA #1 • ACT 1 QUINTET • IF LOVE IS FOUND • ACT 1 FINALE • O GODS OF EARTH • QUEEN’S ARIA #2 • WITHIN THESE WALLS (SARASTRO) • A PRETTY LITTLE MAIDEN • PAPAGENO’S SUICIDE • ACT 2 QUINTET

EL CAPITAN — 2001, 1986

• DON MEDIGUA  • THE CALL TO BATTLE  • OH SPARE A DAUGHTER  • YOU SEE IN ME  • HERE’S YOUR WIFE  • BOWED WITH TRIBULATION  • SWEETHEART I’M WAITING  • WHEN SOME SERIOUS AFFLICTION  • TYPICAL TUNE OF ZANZIBAR

CARMEN–2000 (IN ENGLISH)

• CIGARETTE CHORUS AND HABANERA • ACT 2 OPENING AND CHANSON BOHEME • FLOWER SONG • SEGUIDILLA • ACT 2 FINALE • ACT 2 QUINTET • ACT 3 ENSEMBLE • CARD TRIO • ACT 4 FINALE •

KISMET– 1999, 1987

 • WAS I WAZIR • BAUBLES, BANGLES AND BEADS • NOT SINCE NINEVEH

STRICTLY VAUDEVILLE—1996

• DOTTIE ON THE RAILROAD  • ONE MAN OPERA  • HAROLD HAUGH SINGS VAUDEVILLE  • FATAL GLASS OF BEER 

ROBINSON CRUSOE—1994

• A GRAND AFFAIR  • LOVE DUET  • ROBINSON’S GRAND ARIA  • ROBINSON MEETS FRIDAY  • THE MAN I ADORE  • DINNER DUET  • CIVILIZATION SONG

CHAPTER AND WORSE—1990

• THE SHAKESPEARE PARODY  •  THE STALL  • THE DEPRESSION

BA-TA-CLAN—1990

• ITALIAN DUET  • LANGUID LEISURE  • DUO AND RONDEAU

A NIGHT IN VENICE—1989

• FRUTTI DI MARE  • CARAMELLO’S ENTRANCE  • LAGOON WALTZ  • HOW I BURN INSIDE  • TAKE A LITTLE NOODLE  • IN MASQUERADE QUARTET 1  • IN MASQUERADE QUARTET 2  • SEDUCTION DUET

THE BRIGANDS — 1985

• FALSACAPPA BEHOLD MY BOOTY  • FIORELLA’S ENTRANCE  • THE CANON  • TAKE THE TURNING  • TREASURER’S SONG  • LOVE IS FULL OF SURPRISES

MERRY WIDOW—1984

• DANILO’S ENTRANCE  • HAUSLICHKEIT DUET  • THE HORSEMAN  • LOVE IN MY HEART  • VILIA  • MERRY WIDOW WALTZ

LA VIE PARISIENNE—1982

• GARDEFEU’S ARIA  • PARIS SIGHTS TRIO  • GLOVE DUET  • FOILED SEDUCTION  • 2^ND ACT FINALE  PARISIAN LADIES KNOW HOW TO WALK  • YOU’RE SPLITTING DOWN THE BACK  • STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN  • ACT 3 FINALE  • ACT 4 FINALE

COX AND BOX – 1978

COMPLETE SHOW IN FOUR SEGMENTS