from Act II of the English opera
H.M.S. Pinafore by Arthur Sullivan
Libretto: W.S. Gilbert
Role: Little Buttercup, a bumboat woman in love with Captain Corcoran
Voice Part: mezzo-soprano|contralto Fach: contralto
Setting: quarterdeck of the H.M.S. Pinafore at night, anchored off Portsmouth, England, late 1800's
Synopsis: Buttercup explains to Sir Joseph, the crew of the Pinafore, and Sir Joseph's female relatives that she was the wetnurse for both Ralph the seaman and Captain Corcoran. However, she mixed them up and later realized that she had given the wrong baby to each family. So, Ralph should be the high-born Captain and Captain Corcoran should be the poor sailor.