A chorus sung in
The Mikado, or The Town of Titipu, an
operetta written by
W.S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan. The team wrote the Mikado during their work together at the
Savoy Theatre, in
London,
England, and the first production was held on March 14,
1885.
Set in a comical
Westernized vision of
feudal Japan, The Mikado tells the tale of
Nanki-Poo, who has fled the court of his father, the
Mikado of Japan, to avoid marrying the unattractive
Katisha, to whom he is
betrothed. Disguised as a wandering
minstrel he is reunited with
Yum-Yum, his true love, in the town of
Titipu. Unfortunately, their happy
reunion is ended by Yum-Yum's
betrothal to
Ko-Ko, a condemned man who has been appointed
Lord High Executioner on the principle that he cannot execute anyone before
decapitating himself.
The song is sung as the introduction of the Lord High Executioner Ko-Ko to the audience. He arrives just after Nanki-Poo laments his situation to his friend
Pooh-Bah, setting up the complicated
love triangle that resolves itself during the play.
Excerpt from the original libretto:
RECIT.--NANKI-POO and POOH-BAH.
NANK. And I have journeyed for a month, or
nearly,
To learn that Yum-Yum, whom I love so
dearly,
This day to Ko-Ko is to be
united!
POOH. The fact appears to be as you've
recited:
But here he comes, equipped as suits his
station;
He'll give you any further
information.
Exeunt Pooh-Bah and Nanki-Poo.
Enter Chorus of Nobles.
Behold the Lord High Executioner!
A personage of noble rank and
title-
A dignified and potent officer,
Whose functions are particularly
vital!
Defer, defer, to the Lord High Executioner!
Defer, defer,
To the noble Lord, to the noble Lord,
The Lord High Executioner!
Enter Ko-Ko attended.
SOLO--KO-KO.
Taken from the
county jail
By a set of
curious chances;
Liberated then
on bail,
On my own
recognizances;
Wafted by a
favouring gale
As one sometimes is
in trances,
To a height that few
can scale,
Save by long and
weary dances;
Surely, never had
a male
Under such like
circumstances
So adventurous
a tale,
Which may rank with most
romances.
CHORUS. Defer, defer,
To the Lord High Executioner, etc.
KO.
Gentlemen, I'm much touched by this
reception. I can only trust that by
strict attention to duty I shall ensure a
continuance of those favours which it will ever be my study to
deserve. If I should ever be called upon to act professionally, I am happy to think that there will be no
difficulty in finding plenty of people whose
loss will be a distinct
gain to society at large.