In this powerful soliloquy, the King grapples with what he knows and does not know. Faced with teaching a son whose inherited beliefs are challenged by European ideas, he struggles to find a way to guide his son confidently toward the truth.
The March of the Siamese Children
One by one, the Royal Children of Siam are presented to their new teacher, Anna Leonowens. Choreographer Jerome Robbins brilliantly staged this unique piece of music with majesty and simplicity.
Hello, Young Lovers
When Anna shares a photo of her late husband Tom with Lady Thiang and the royal wives, they find it hard to believe there is a world where one man and one woman can connect for all time. In response, Anna recalls her time with Tom, the love of her life. Uncharacteristically, Oscar Hammerstein II took a long time to … Read More
My Lord and Master
When Tuptim arrives as a gift to the King, she declares that she will always love another; her heart belongs to Lun Tha, the young scholar who has brought her from Burma.
I Whistle a Happy Tune
As their ship approaches Bangkok, Anna teaches her nervous son Louis a helpful way to curtail worrisome thoughts – which she herself secretly feels.
Overture
This sweeping overture, orchestrated (and probably sequenced) by Robert Russell Bennett, features themes from such numbers as “I Whistle A Happy Tune,” “I Have Dreamed,” “Something Wonderful” and others. Its majestic opening chords immediately establish the royal world of Siam.
Something Good
As the Captain and Maria confess their unexpected love to each other, they quietly agree that their good fortune is due to having done “Something Good” in their pasts. Written by Richard Rodgers alone for the 1965 film, “Something Good” is a beautiful, quiet duet for Maria and the Captain. Replacing “An Ordinary Couple” from the Broadway version, this song … Read More
Edelweiss
“Edelweiss,” a musical tribute to his homeland, is sung by Baron von Trapp at the concert. Evoking an authentic Austrian folk ballad, the song serves as subtle protest against the Nazi annexation of the Captain’s beloved Austria. The stage musical makes reference to the song having been sung earlier, but the scene is not depicted. In the film, that scene … Read More
Sixteen Going on Seventeen (Reprise)
In the reprise of “Sixteen Going on Seventeen,” Maria, just home from her honeymoon with the Captain, encourages Liesl to “wait a year or two” in her relationship with Rolf. The reprise contains a special verse: “A bell is no bell till you ring it, a song is no song till you sing it, and love in your heart wasn’t … Read More
An Ordinary Couple
After the Captain and his new governess, a former postulant, fall in love and confess the unexpected nature of their feelings, they dream about an ordinary, happy future together. “An Ordinary Couple” is a simple yet sincere song that beautifully romanticizes the idyllic comfort of everyday domestic, married life. While the moment in the story remains in the movie, 20th … Read More