Der Zigeunerprimas

Emmerich Kálmán
Operettas The Gay Hussars (1908) Az obsitos (1910) Der Zigeunerprimas (1912) Zsuzsi kisasszony (1915) Die Csárdásfürstin (1915) Die Bajadere (1921) Gräfin Mariza (1924) Die Zirkusprinzessin (1926) Die Herzogin von Chicago (1928) Das Veilchen vom Montmartre (1930) Kaiserin Josephine (1936) Marinka (1945) Arizona Lady (1954)
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Der Zigeunerprimas (The Gypsy Band Leader, known as Sari and The Gypsy Virtuoso in English speaking countries) is a three act operetta, which was composed by Emmerich Kálmán. The libretto was written by Julius Wilhelm and Fritz Grünbaum. It premiered in Vienna, at the Johann Strauss Theatre, on October 11, 1912.

Roles

Role	Voice type	Premiere Cast, 11 October 1912 (Conductor: - )
Pali Rácz, a Gypsy violinist and orchestra leader	tenor	Alexander Girardi[1]
Laczi, Pali's son	tenor	Willy Strehl
Sári, Pali's daughter	soprano	Grete Holm
Juliska Racz, Pali's niece	soprano
Gaston, Count Irini	baritone	Max Brod
King Heribert VII, disguised as Count Estragon	baritone	Josek Victora

Synopsis

Pali Rácz, a thrice-widowed Gypsy violinist, is adored by women and hailed widely as a virtuoso. His daughter Sari cares for their large family. His young son Laczi is also a violinist, but has chosen to forsake his father's playing style and study classical violin at the Academy of Music. Pali wants to marry his niece, Juliska, as a companion in his old age, but she prefers his son, Laczi, and Laczi, in turn, loves her. Pali criticizes Laczi's musical talent so much, and Laczi yearns so for Juliska, that he leaves home. Reunited in Paris, father and son reconcile after Countess Irini, an old admirer, convinces Pali not to interfere with the course of Laczi and Juliska's relationship. Irini's grandson marries Sari.

Recordings

• Metternich, Katona, Jurgens, Losch, Daue, Hofmann – WDR – Marszalek – 1949 or 1960’s (0103)
• Thompson, Meacham, Lengfelder – Ohio Light Opera – McMahon – 2001 (0098).
• Rossmanith, Lienbacher, Saccá, Bankl-Flor-CPO 058-2-2003

Notes and references

1. ^ Premiere cast from Casaglia (2005)

Sources

• Casaglia, Gherardo (2005). 11 ottobre 1912". Almanacco Amadeus. Accessed 27 March 2011 (Italian).
• Myers, Eric (2002). "Kalman: Der Zigeunerprimas. Opera News, October 2002 (subscription required)

External links

• Detailed synopsis and list of musical numbers for Der Zigeunerprimas at musicaltheatreguide.com