Die Csárdásfürstin

Die Csárdásfürstin or A Csárdáskirálynő (literally The Csárdás Princess; translated into English as The Riviera Girl and The Gipsy Princess) is an operetta in 3 acts by Hungarian composer Emmerich Kalman, libretto by Leo Stein and B. Jenbach. It premiered in Vienna at the Johann Strauss Theater, 17 November, 1915. Numerous film versions and recordings have been made. The operetta is widely beloved in Hungary and is arguably Kálmán's most successful work.

Roles

Role	Voice type	Premiere Cast, November 17, 1915 (Conductor: - )
Sylva Varescu	soprano	Mitzi Günther
Edwin Ronald	tenor	Karl Bachmann
Countess Stasi	soprano	Susanne Bachrich
Baron Boni Káncsiánu	tenor	Josef König
Feri von Kerekes	bass	Antal Nyárai
Anhilte	contralto	Gusti Macha
Leopold Maria	bass
Oberleutnant von Rohnsdorff	bass
An American	bass

Synopsis

Place: Budapest and Vienna

Time: shortly before the out-break of the First World War

At a Budapest music hall the young Count Edwin falls in love with the famous café singer Sylva Varescu, however a relationship is unthinkable for reasons of their differing social position. After much confusion, mistaken identity and heartbreak it is discovered that Edwin's own mother had been on the stage prior to her marriage. As a result Edwin's father must drop his objection to the union of Edwin and Sylva.

Selected recordings

• Anna Moffo (Sylva), René Kollo (Edwin), Dagmar Koller (Countess Stasi), Sándor Németh (Baron Káncsiánu), Lászlo Mensarós (Kerekes) - Symphonieorchester Graunke, Bert Grund - Eurodisc (1972)

References

• Amadeus Almanac, accessed 17 September 2008

External links

• Naxos page with lengthy essay
• 1935 Movie version