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AbstractHistoryArchive Description
The narrative is set on the island of Cuba in 1550, and with the incidents said to have been taken from West Indian legend. Act One sees the narrative set on a plantation on the coast of Cuba. Isidora, a woman over whose birth hangs a mystery, is in love with Felix. Her adopted father, Patronio, would prefer that she marry a Count, but unbeknownst to all the Count has drowned and is being impersonated. Meanwhile Felix attempts to locate a buried treasure so that he can marry Isidora when the Black Rover appears and kidnaps the lovers and the fake count, Henry T Smith, along with a group of Patronio's slaves.
Act Two, set on board the pirate's ship, sees the prisoners condemned to death, but they are saved by Isidora when she sings a song that was sung to her by a woman, perhaps her mother, when she was a babe. The pirate's anger is dampened, and soon after the prisoner's escape on a raft, leaving the pirate ship to sink.
In the final act Isidora and her fellow captives return to the plantation to find happiness, except for Smith, who is gaoled. The opera also contains several sub-plots and intrigues concerning mistaken identity, lust and love, human sacrifice and a curse.
Act Two, set on board the pirate's ship, sees the prisoners condemned to death, but they are saved by Isidora when she sings a song that was sung to her by a woman, perhaps her mother, when she was a babe. The pirate's anger is dampened, and soon after the prisoner's escape on a raft, leaving the pirate ship to sink.
In the final act Isidora and her fellow captives return to the plantation to find happiness, except for Smith, who is gaoled. The opera also contains several sub-plots and intrigues concerning mistaken identity, lust and love, human sacrifice and a curse.
Notes
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Commissioned by the Majeroni and Wilson Comic Opera Company, Estrella is founded on The Legend of the Black Rover, and had its world premiere at Melbourne's Bijou Theatre on the 7th of July (it was staged in London in 1890 under the title The Black Rover).
Production Details
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1885: Bijou Theatre, Melbourne; 7-25 July (16 pfms).
- Producer Eduardo Majeroni and W. J. Wilson; S Manager George Leopold.
- Cast incl. Charles Harding (Felix), George Leopold (Henry T. Smith), Oliver 'Olly' Deering (Chickanaque), Edwin Kelly (The Black Rover), Edwin Lester (Jacob), F. Wentworth (Senor Patronio), E. Rosevear (Magistrate), G. T. Tremnell (Bill), W. P Morrison (Tom), Gracie Plaisted (Isidora), Ella Fenton (Annetta), Frances Saville, plus a chorus of negroes, Plantation Girls, Pirates, Sailors, Angels etc.
1885: New Opera House, Sydney; 23 August. - 2 September.
- Producer Eduardo Majeroni and W. J. Wilson; Conductor Luscombe Searelle; Scenic Art. Alfred Clint.
- Cast incl. Charles Harding (Felix), Gracie Plaisted (Isidora), Edwin Kelly (Henry T. Smith), Oliver 'Olly' Deering Chickanaque), Lithgow James (The Black Rover), Edwin Lester (Jacob), F. Wentworth (Senor Patronio), E. Rosevear (Magistrate), G. T. Tremnell (Bill), W. P Morrison (Tom), Sophie Harris (Annetta), Frances Saville, plus a chorus of negroes, Plantation Girls, Pirates, Sailors, Angels etc.
- Lithgow James (a celebrated baritone) made his first appearance in Australia for the 1885 Sydney season of Isidora, taking over from Edwin Kelly, who subsequently replaced George Leopold as Henry T. Smith.
1887: Cape Town, South Africa; no details.
- Troupe: Luscombe Searelle's Opera Company.
1890: Globe Theatre, London, UK; 23 September - 7 November (40 pfms - as The Black Rover).
- Director Hugh Moss; Producer George Paget; Business Manager A. Talbot.
- Cast incl. William Ludwig (Black Rover), Blanche Fenton (Isidora), William Hogarth (Patrouio), John Le Hay (Jacob), Charles Collette (Pedro), Shiel Barry (Chichanaque), Maurice Mancini (Felix), Royden Erlynne (Moro), Ettie Chapoy (Sabina), Florence Lloyd (Annetta).
[Source: Australian Variety Theatre Archive - see 'Works 1884']
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
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 28 Feb 2014 09:36:08
