Roulette of Hearts
| Work data | |
|---|---|
| Title: | Roulette of Hearts |
| Shape: | operetta |
| Original language: | German |
| Music: | Igo Hofstetter |
| Libretto : | Ludwig Husnik |
| Premiere: | November 14, 1964 |
| Place of premiere: | Linz |
| Place and time of the action: | Monte Carlo |
| people | |
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Roulette of Hearts is an operetta in three acts (five pictures) with music by Igo Hofstetter and the libretto by Ludwig Husnik . The work had its world premiere on November 14, 1964 at the Landestheater Linz . Leopold Mayer was the musical director.
action
place and time
The operetta is set in Monte Carlo . The plot is an exotic romance.
The music is characterized by a wealth of melodies and refined harmonies as well as many jazzy elements and South American rhythms.
The work has been translated into several foreign languages and was on the repertoire of various theaters for several years.
1st act
After his divorce in Brazil, millionaire Robert Lanol married classy Laija, the daughter of his plantation farmer. The beautiful Brazilian leaves him soon after the wedding and now leads a costly life at the expense of her husband, so that he wants to get a divorce again. But this is only possible because of a signed marriage contract if he can prove adultery to his wife. Laija has now rented a villa in Monte Carlo , where she throws lavish parties and gambled away his money in the casino. Lanol hires the detective Poulet to spy on Laija and to seduce her into adultery. Finally he travels to Monte Carlo himself, where he happens to meet his divorced wife Juliette Leclair and their daughter Rose. Rose is in Dr. Hans Wörgler, her mother's private secretary, fell in love. Both want to get married, but their mother does not allow it. In the casino, Hans meets his old friend Ernst, who was in Paris as Prince of Ixomania and who came to Monte Carlo shortly. However, the prince has financial problems because the revolutionaries have taken power in his homeland and he therefore no longer gets any money from there. Laija is also present. As the newly crowned beauty queen, she can now choose a man to have dinner with her. She chooses the prince by chance, but he is reluctant to come to her table. The prince was supposed to kiss the beauty queen, but the prince refuses by pretending that he is not in love and that he does not have the 50,000 francs that he would have to donate as the chosen one after the kiss. This amazes Laija very much and invites the prince to a party the next day in her villa, where the matter of the kiss is to be decided over a roulette of hearts . The detective Poulet follows the events with interest in the hope that Laija could now commit adultery. Chicken offers the prince a million francs if the prince can win Laja's heart, but the prince, irritated, refuses the offer.
2nd act
In addition to the prince, Robert Lanol, Juliette Leclair, Rose, Hans and Poulet also appear at the festival at Laija. Laija and the prince fall in love after some initial differences. But when suddenly an ambassador from Ixomania came in and asked the prince to return to his country, the mood was clouded. The prince's father was kidnapped by revolutionaries and the prince is now supposed to deposit a large sum as a ransom. Laija wants to pay the ransom and travel to Ixomania with the prince. Rose and Hans, who has already been dismissed as secretary by their mother, also come along.
3rd act
In Ixomania, after a few entanglements, all problems are now resolving by themselves. The revolution and the kidnapping of the sovereign were only faked to get the ransom. This plan also works, as many countries offer their support after the alleged suppression of the revolution. Robert Lanon, who has also traveled to Ixomania with his divorced wife in his private plane, releases Laija for marriage to the prince. Laija waives a settlement from the marriage contract and Lanol is relieved. Rose and Hans are finally allowed to marry, because their mother now accepts him as a son-in-law because he now has the prospect of a post as ambassador for Ixomania.
Musical highlights
- Yes, in Brazil
- A little flirt
- Cherchez la femme
- You have to love women
- Mademoiselle
- Love, speak this word only to me
- Be in love
- Dear Prince Charming
Sound carrier
- Complete recording CD Igo Hofstetter: Roulette of Hearts - Chess the Boss , Hamburg Archive for Singing Art [2018]
- Single track on the CD Igo Hofstetter . ORF Upper Austria 1996; with Margit Schramm , Waldemar Kmentt , Helga Papouschek and Harry Friedauer and the Großer Linzer Rundfunkorchester under the direction of Leopold Mayer
literature
- Program booklet Roulette of Hearts . Landestheater Linz, season 1964/65.
- Austrian Theater Yearbook 1964/65. Koska Publishing House, Vienna-Berlin 1965.
- Booklet for the CD Igo Hofstetter . ORF Upper Austria, Linz 1996.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Booklet for CD Igo Hofstetter. Roulette of Hearts. Total recording. Hamburg Archive for Singing Art, undated