The Old Guard is an English version, written by H. B. Farnie, of Les Voltigeurs dela 32ème, an opéra comique in three acts by E . Gondinet et G. Duval with music by Robert Planquette. It was first performed at the Grand Theatre, Birmingham, on 10 October 1887, and transferred to the Avenue Theatre, London, on 26 October 1887.

Dramatis Personæ

Musical Numbers

• Overture

ACT I   -   The Village Inn at Vaudrez-les-Vignes, near Macon in Burgundy, France.

• No. 1 - Conscription Chorus - "In there, our young men draw, from the urn and by the law, lots, who shall conscript be, shoulder gun and service see! ..."
• No. 2 - Chorus and Song - Fraisette - "Fraisette!  Just look alive!  Little care for us is shown;  True 'tis, in ev'ry hive, there is sure to be a drone! ..."
• No. 2½ - Exit - "Who will in the ranks quick fall, ready at their country's call, in their havresack mayhap, bâton of a mareschal! ..."
• No. 3 - Waltz Song - Marcel - "Only a moment love was mine, yet drank I deep the draught divine!  Only a moment and no more, yet she's my fate for evermore!"
• No. 4 - Diligence Chorus - "From the coach they're getting down;  now for news from Paris town!"
• No. 5 - Valse - Murielle - "Wild brigands creeping, through thicket sleeping, lurk'd on our way to make us their prey!  All round was lonely, all still..."
• No. 5½ - Exit - "That we further news may hear, coachman! come and have some beer!"
• No. 6 - Duet - Fraisette and Gaston - "All I have to give's my heart; take it, love, since we must part!  Poor gift, I know, yet let it go, 'twill only live were'er thou art..."
• No. 7 - Air - Fraisette - "Fare thee well, my humble home, where I slept beneath the eaves.  It is no gilded dome my heart with sorrow leaves..."
• No. 8 - Finale Act I - "Here they come!  Here they come!  Here they come!  Here they come!  Hark! the bugle, hark! the drum! ..."

ACT II   -   The Hall of the Château D'Artemare, that night.

• No. 9 - Entr'Acte
• No. 10 - Recruiting Song - Patatout(?) and Chorus - "Now ladies, whom there's no resisting, just list to me, whilst you I'm 'listing, if so ye all would guardsmen be..."
• No. 10½ - Reprise and Exit - "March, march away!  March, march away!  Shoulder to shoulder, ah it is gay! ..."
• No. 11 - Romance - Marcel - "A soldier I, yet never knew heart-aching, 'tho on hard earth I've laid my weary head, not very sure, ma foi! of ever waking..."
• No. 12 - Song - Murielle - "A lowly servant lass am I, all in the house supposed to do, to dust, sew, milk, wash, boil and fry, as well as put things in a stew! ..."
• No. 13 - Ci-Devant Chorus - "To the rabble rout who rule our land, vow we hatred cordial and hearty;  not forgetting him who heads the band, Corsican canaille ..."
• No. 13½ - Melodrame
• No. 14 - Concerted Number - "Ah! she's very pretty!  Ah! she's very pretty, tho' the girl seems ill at ease, bedizen'd thus!  Ah! it is a pity..."
• No. 14½ - Melodrame - Chorus Exit - "Ah! she's very pretty!  Ah! she's very pretty..." etc.
• No. 15 - Duet - Fraisette and Marcel - "Young, and divinely fair, to her trembling now, feignèd love and vow, shall I falsely swear?  No!  I'd rather break my sword..."
• No. 16 - Valse Chantée - Fraisette, Murielle, Gaston, Marcel and Chorus - "'Neath the lamplight warmly glowing, all too soon the night is going..."
• No. 17 - Melodrame
• No. 17½ - Melodrame
• No. 18 - Finale Act II - "Hail!  the welcome danger that recalls me! ... (What a cursèd accident befalls me!) ... (For a time, at least, the tempest's o'er) ..."

ACT III   -   The Park of the Château D'Artemare, three days later.

• No. 19 - Entr'acte
• No. 20 - Chorus - "Hang the kettle up to warm, and stir the brushwood fire!  Here the village lasses swarm, with all that we require!  Soldiers have such an air! ..."
• No. 21 - Song - Patatout and Chorus - "A prudent girl, at fall of night, the shortcut home should always take; above all, if some village wight should see her in..."
• No. 22 - Duet - Marcel and Gaston - "Soldier! alerte!  Nor dream of home and beauty! ... That will be hard, but, captain, it is well! ... Sentinel!  'tis well! ..."
• No. 23 - Trio - Murielle, Marquis and Marcel - "You give consent? .. Yes! .. 'Tis your intent? .. Yes! .. No room for doubt! .. I may not doubt, yet cannot make it out!"
• No. 24 - Rustic Air - Fraisette and Chorus - "Tho' poor Fraisette in fine brocade and silk array'd be, and tho' he bade the servants all to call me lady! ..."
• No. 25 - Melodrame
• No. 26 - Melodrame
• No. 27 - Finale Act III - "Duty bids me march away, Love's too true to bid me stay!  Think not, comrades, that my dearer life ere shall make me falter in the strife..."

Additional Songs:

• No. 28 - Maire's Song - Poupart and Chorus - "I am a most tremendous local swell, who admiration must compel ..."
• No. 29 - Duet - Marquis and Poupart - "It seems to me but yesterday, although so very long ago, that you and I (I blush to say) were look'd upon as far from slow..."
• No. 30 - Song - Poupart - "At the first I was nervous on ent'ring the service, with goose-step and barrack-drilling, one, two, three! ..."
• No. 31 - Song - Gaston - "The lovers' hour is nigh;  from belfry old, hark!  the angelus is chiming.  Light foot and glancing eye with shepherd pipe..."

Note: Item 29 was composed by J. Crook, and contains 5 more verses, not included here

MIDI Files

External Links

The Old Guard at The Guide to Musical Theatre

Vocal Score at UR Research

Page modified 3 February 2017