The Smugglers, composed in 1881, was the first fully produced operetta with music composed by John Philip Sousa.
The libretto was written by Wilson Vance, a friend of his, who also wrote the libretto to another Sousa operetta Katherine (1879), which was never produced.The Smugglers consists of two acts. It was based on the Arthur Sullivan and F. C. Burnand opera The Contrabandista.
Two versions of The Smugglers were produced. An 1881 edition and a 1882 revision. The original 1881 edition libretto has been lost. However, the 1882 revision libretto, which was also once considered lost is located at Bowling Green State University, Ohio, in the Wilson Vance papers. The libretto has been copied and transcribed for easier reading by Arthur O'Dwyer in 2025. The vocal score was published by W. F. Shaw, Philadelphia, in 1881.
Productions The operetta was first produced on March 25, 1882, at Lincoln Hall in Washington, D.C. The audience enjoyed it, and the production included the local National Rifles group for the "Soldier's Chorus". The performance was assisted by the Operatic Association of Washington D.C. Afterwards, the show went on a brief tour but ended in financial failure for Sousa.
Reviews The The Washington Star wrote in an article about the performance in 1882: "The Smugglers will be performed at Lincoln Hall tomorrow night on the occasion of a complimentary benefit to the composers, Messrs. Vance and Sousa. The cast is very strong and the performance promises to be a spirited affair."
The arias from the production were described as "bright, sparkling, and "catchy"". The libretto and music were said to be "original and attractive".
Roles +Role1882 Lincoln Hall castTito, a smuggler (baritone)Mateo, a smuggler (bass)Enrique, Violante's beau (tenor)Stubbs, a tourist (tenor)Captian of the Gaurd (baritone)Violante, a kidnapped maiden (soprano)Queen of the Smugglers (contralto)Fanny Wentworth Chorus: Male and female smugglers, carabineers Note: Fanny Wentworth was a member of the New York Standard English Opera.
The Lincoln Theatre cast also included (with no character designations given) Ms. Eva Mills, J. H. Rennie, Jno. O. Pugh, L. P. Slebold, and E. J. Whipple.
Later performances On February 20, 1885, in a Washington Composers Grand Concert, Sousa's quintet from The Smugglers was performed with vocal soloists along with several of his overtures played by the United States Marine Band.Evening Star. (Washington, DC) 20 Feb. 1885, p. 4. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/item/sn83045462/1885-02-20/ed-1/.
Musical numbers 1881 edition order.
+Act 1OvertureOpening Chorus: Smugglers WeScene: Silence, At Your Stations Hie!Song: The widow's life's a lonely oneScene and Solo: When the Storms of LifeQuintet: Ah, Love, Kind LoveBallad: The Maiden Sat with Folded HandsDuet: Come to These Arms that Long to Hold Thee!Song: I've Leapt and I've Climbed Like a Blawsted GoatQuintet and Chorus: It Matters NotTrio and Chorus: He is a SpyFinale: Rouse Thee, and Put Thine Armor On!Act 2Entre ActIntroduction and Duet: How Slowly Fades the SunSong: I'm a Robber Free and BoldTrio: Do with your Flocks and HerdsCoronation Scene: We Hail Our New-Found King!Duet: Canst Thou Turn AwaySong: Free Hearts of SpainSong and Chorus: Wine! Wine!Duet: Sighing, Ah, SighingSoldier's chorus: Let us march alongScene and Chorus: Battle SongFinale
Music Some of the music in The Smugglers is done in the style of Arthur Sulivan in order to pay homage to what inspired this operetta, The Contrabandista. This was highly unusual for Sousa, as he rarely copied other composer styles. Parts for the quintet in The Smugglers are in the Sousa Archives at the University of Illinois, and restored orchestrations are available at IMSLP.
Sousa later used the music of We Hail Our New-Found King from act 2 in his suite At the King's Court, and the melody to "Sighing, Ah, Sighing" was reused in his later operetta El Capitan for the duet "Sweetheart, I'm Waiting". Melodies from The Smugglers were later used to form The Lambs' March (1914).
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