A waltz dream
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| Title: | A waltz dream |
| Shape: | operetta |
| Original language: | German |
| Music: | Oscar Straus |
| Libretto : | Felix Dörmann and Leopold Jacobson |
| Literary source: | Novella "Nux the Prince Consort" by Hans Müller |
| Premiere: | March 2, 1907 |
| Place of premiere: | Vienna |
| Place and time of the action: | Principality of Flausenthurn around 1905 |
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A Waltz Dream is an operetta in three acts by Oscar Straus . The libretto was written by Felix Dörmann and Leopold Jacobson . It is based on the novella "Nux the Prince Consort" from the "Book of Adventure" by Hans Müller . The work had its world premiere on March 2, 1907 in the Carltheater in Vienna .
orchestra
Two flutes, two oboes, two clarinets, two bassoons, four horns, two trumpets, three trombones, a harp, a celesta, a guitar, percussion and strings. For the stage music you need a ladies band!
action
The operetta takes place in the fictional Principality of Flausenthurn shortly after the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries.
first act
Image: Magnificent hall in the castle
What has finally happened, after which the ruling Prince Joachim XIII. von Flausenthurn has longed for: the wedding of his daughter Helene. Three hours ago she and the Austrian lieutenant Niki said yes, and now there is an extensive celebration in the palace's state hall. Niki is not at all happy about the many courtly ceremonies that aristocratic etiquette demands. Although hardly married, he is longing for his hometown Vienna with its waltz sounds. When his father-in-law thought the opportunity was right, he took Niki into his confidence and asked him to give him a grandson as heir to the throne as soon as possible. However, he is stunned by Niki's answer. He demands a separate bedroom from him and says that he is not the born husband.
In the evening, soft melodies from the nearby restaurant garden come over to the palace in three-four time. Suddenly Niki is transformed. He pretends to go to sleep, but shortly afterwards leaves the castle unnoticed with his friend, Lieutenant Montschi. The path leads them to the bandstand in the park.
Second act
Image: Restoration park with music pavilion
The ladies' band is currently taking a break, which Niki uses to flirt with the conductor Franzi Steingruber. She is also not averse to adventure, especially since the dashing young officer seems to come from her beloved Vienna.
In the princely castle it has meanwhile been established that Niki has disappeared without a trace. The wedding party therefore goes to look for the missing person. Joachim XIII, his cousin Count Lothar, the newly wed Princess Helene and her Chamberlain Friederike von Insterburg also enter the park with the music pavilion. There is an atmosphere here that the Flausenthurner have never known before. The Viennese waltzes of the ladies' band make the blood boil. Joachim XIII., A widower for several years, is after the cheeky “Tschinellenfifi”, and his cousin Lothar makes every effort to hook up with the head of the orchestra. But this only haunts Niki in the head, so that Lothar spends in vain loving labor.
Niki can hardly believe it when suddenly his wife stands in front of him and invites him to dance. Helene genuinely loves her husband and is sad that he doesn't feel at home in Flausenthurn. Nevertheless, the two happily turn in three-quarter time. They are recognized by the people as highnesses. As they are then also paid homage to, it becomes clear to the head of the ladies' band that a fleeting flirtation with the dashing fellow cannot result in a love affair.
Third act
Image: Salon in the castle
Helene keeps thinking of yesterday evening in the restaurant park. She has never seen her beloved Niki so happy. There must be something mysterious about the Viennese atmosphere that prevailed there. But what? - Fortunately, Helene managed to invite Franzi Steingruber to the castle. She wants to find out the secret from her. The musician is also not long in coming. She even complies with Helene's request to come to the castle veiled so that she is not recognized by Niki. It goes on for a few days, and little by little, Viennese cosiness spreads in the castle. Niki notices the inner change in his wife and is more and more taken with her.
Count Lothar believes the veiled woman who is currently sneaking into the castle every day is Niki's lover. He secretly begins to rejoice at this, as he doesn't like the Viennese Schnösel at all and believes that he can drive him out of court if he convicts him of the affair. But of course nothing comes of it; he's just embarrassing himself.
From the next room a lovely waltz melody comes to Niki's ear, sung by a woman's voice and accompanied by a violin. As the music gets closer and closer, Niki recognizes the two: It's Helene and Franzi. He enthusiastically embraces his wife and pays homage to the Viennese waltz dream with her. Franzi Steingruber says goodbye. A guest performance in the Austrian capital awaits her and her ladies' band.
music
When listening to the brilliantly orchestrated, melodious work, it hardly occurs to you that it is an early work by the composer. None of his later operettas came anywhere near such success. Even in non-German-speaking countries, she achieved impressive performance numbers. Of the numerous delightful music numbers, only the following should be highlighted:
- I have a husband, a husband of my own
- It sounds softly, very softly through the room, lovely tune, waltz dream
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Spring |
- Asked girls, resch and dashing
- Come here, you my lovely little girl
- O you dear, o you fail ...
- You should reveal the secret
- Piccolo! Piccolo! Tsin - tsin - tsin!
filming
After the first film in 1925 , including with Willy Fritsch , Mady Christians and Xenia Desni , the operetta was used together with the novel as the basis for the comedy The Smiling Lieutenant of Ernst Lubitsch , which he in 1931 with Maurice Chevalier and Claudette Colbert staged. There was another film adaptation in 1969 under Fred Kraus.