Axel at the heavenly door

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Work data
Original title: Axel at the door of heaven / Singspiel in 3 acts
Original language: German
Music: Ralph Benatzky
Libretto : Paul Morgan and Adolf Schütz (lyrics by Hans Weigel )
Premiere: September 1, 1936
Place of premiere: Theater an der Wien
Playing time: approx. 2½ hours
people
  • Gloria Mills, Hollywood star
  • Axel Swift, reporter
  • Jessie Leyland
  • Cecil Mc Scott, Chief Producer
  • Stuart Williams, director
  • Miss Brown, secretary
  • Theodor Herlinger, hairdresser
  • Production manager
  • Surgeon
  • mixer
  • Head of equipment
  • composer
  • Author of the "Scott Film Corporation"
  • Lady Constance Barrington
  • Police Magistrate Irving Blythe
  • Attorney Bob Peppermint
  • Police Superintendent Tommy Rogers
  • Detective Inspector Morton
  • Clark, chauffeur with Gloria
  • Dinah, servant to Gloria
  • The manager of the hotel
  • The hotel porter
  • First detective
  • Second detective
Shellac recording of the song Kinostar! with Zarah Leander.

Axel an der Himmelstür is a Singspiel by Ralph Benatzky . It premiered in 1936 and made the then unknown Zarah Leander an overnight star in the role of Gloria Mills. Max Hansen , who had recommended his colleague, was on stage as Axel Swift .

Liane Haid was originally intended for the female lead , but she dropped the project at the last moment. After that, even Greta Garbo should have been in conversation, but Zarah Leander made the race. Many pieces of music had to be transposed lower because Leander's alto voice was not Haid's height.

Performers in the world premiere

  • Author of the "Scott Film Corporation" - Harold Maresch
  • Lady Constance Barrington - Annie Reiter
  • Police judge Irving Blythe - Armin Springer
  • Attorney Bob Peppermint - Arthur Mainzer
  • Police Supervisor Tommy Rogers - Erwin Parker
  • Detective Inspector Morton - Josef Huebner
  • Clark, chauffeur at Gloria - Hans Frank
  • Dinah, servant at Gloria - Heidemarie Hatheyer
  • The director of the hotel - Felix Knüpfer
  • The hotel porter - Hermann Pfalzner
  • First detective - Fritz Bader
  • Second Detective - Ed. Finberg

Recording

Vienna, December 17, 1958 - Small Vienna Radio Orchestra under Heinz Sandauer with Zarah Leander as Gloria Mills.

Film adaptations

The Singspiel has been filmed twice so far. In 1944 Arthur Maria Rabenalt directed a movie with Johannes Heesters and Marte Harell , in 1966 Hans Heinrich directed a television adaptation with Ruth Maria Kubitschek and Vico Torriani in the leading roles.

New production (selection)

Director Peter Lund created a new production in 2016 at the Vienna Volksoper .

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ http://www.zarahleander.de/buehnenrolle.html
  2. ↑ Axel an der Himmelstür - complete recording Vienna 1958 / Walhall Eternity Series (remastered) with Zarah Leander and Toni Niessner
  3. ↑ Axel an der Himmelstür (1944) in the Internet Movie Database
  4. ↑ Axel an der Himmelstür (1966) in the Internet Movie Database