The Mikado

What is The Mikado?


1.

The Mikado is an operetta which was written by Gilbert and Sullivanand first performed in 1885.

The operetta is highly comedic, satirical depiction of life in the Japanese town of Titipu. While the plot appears to be poking fun at Japanese tradition, it is actually a cleverly disguised parody of British politics. The plot follows Nanki-Poo, the son of Japan's lordlike Mikado, in his attempts to woo the fair Yum-Yum away from her fiance Ko-Ko, whilst avoiding the affections of his own betrothed, the elderly Katisha.

The male roles in the Mikado are:

-The Mikado ( bass)

-Nanki-Poo, his son (tenor)

-Ko-Ko, the Lord High Executioner ( baritone)

-Pooh-Bah, the Lord High Everything Else ( baritone)

-Pish-Tush, a nobleman ( baritoneor bass)

The female roles in the Mikado are:

-Yum-Yum, Ko-Ko's betrothed (soprano)

-Peep-Bo, a ward of Ko-Ko (soprano)

-Pitti-Sing, her sister (mezzo-soprano)

-Katisha, a noblewoman ( contralto)

However, sometimes people with different ranges can play various roles in the operetta. Pitti-Sing can be successfully sung by an alto, while any female singer could play Katisha as long as she has a low range. If the actor playing Pish-Tush cannot hit a bottom F, another character, Go-To, may be played by a bassto sing Pish-Tush's lower parts.

The most famous song from the Mikado is "Three Little Maids from School."

See opera, gilbert and sullivan, mikado


39

Random Words:

1. W K Y stands for Would Know Ya. This evolved as an offshoot of the reply D K Y . It began sometime in the 1970's by local teenage..
1. pronounced wombat, stands for "wetting my bed all the time" I went through a period of w.m.b.a.t.t. untill i was 13! See wom..
1. An abbreviation of the word vulnerable. Used primarily in 'internet speak'. Normally used when speaking about weak spots in an..
Book Banner