Kálmán_Imre_cropped_(Willinger_Vilmos,_1924)

''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 Emmerich Kálmán ( hu, Kálmán Imre; 24 October 1882 – 30 October 1953) was a Hungarian composer of operettas and a prominent figure in the development of Viennese operetta in the 20th century. Among his most popular works are ''Die Csárd� ...

. The libretto was written by and Fritz Grünbaum. It premiered at the in Vienna on 11 October 1912. In 1929 it was adapted into a German silent film ''

The Gypsy Chief ''The Gypsy Chief'' (German: ''Der Zigeunerprimas'') is a 1929 German silent drama film directed by Carl Wilhelm and starring Paul Heidemann, Margarete Schlegel and Fritz Schulz. It is an adaptation of the 1912 operetta '' Der Zigeunerprimas' ...

'' directed by Carl Wilhelm.

Roles

Synopsis

Pali Rácz, a thrice-widowed

gypsy The Romani (also spelled Romany or Rromani , ), colloquially known as the Roma, are an Indo-Aryan ethnic group, traditionally nomadic itinerants. They live in Europe and Anatolia, and have diaspora populations located worldwide, with sign ...

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 Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), ma ...

, 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

* Josef Metternich, Julius Katona, Annemarie Jürgens, , Daue, –

Westdeutscher Rundfunk Westdeutscher Rundfunk Köln (''West German Broadcasting Cologne''; WDR, ) is a German public-broadcasting institution based in the Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia with its main office in Cologne. WDR is a constituent member of the conso ...

–

Franz Marszalek Franz Marszalek (born 2 August 1900 in Breslau, Schlesien, Germany (now Wrocław, Silesia, Poland); died 28 October 1975 in Cologne, Germany) was a German conductor and composer, who was a leading figure in operetta. He began his studies in Wro ...

– 1949 * Thompson, Meacham, Lengfelder –

Ohio Light Opera The Ohio Light Opera is a professional opera company based in Wooster, Ohio that performs the light opera repertory, including Gilbert and Sullivan, American, British and continental operettas, and other musical theatre works, especially of the lat ...

– McMahon – 2001 (0098). *

Gabriele Rossmanith Gabriele Rossmanith (born in 1956 in Stuttgart) is a German operatic soprano. She is particularly associated with the Hamburg State Opera The Hamburg State Opera (in German: Staatsoper Hamburg) is a German opera company based in Hamburg. Its ...

, Edith Lienbacher,

Roberto Saccà Roberto Saccà (12 September 1961) is a German operatic tenor. He was a member of the Hessisches Staatstheater Wiesbaden and Opernhaus Zürich, and has appeared in major European opera houses and festivals, first with a focus on roles such as Mo ...

, ;

Claus Peter Flor Claus Peter Flor (born 16 March 1953, Leipzig) is a German conductor. Flor studied violin and clarinet at the Robert Schumann Conservatory in Zwickau. He continued his music studies at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Weimar and the HMT Felix ...

–

Classic Produktion Osnabrück Classic Produktion Osnabrück (often referred to as cpo, in lowercase) is a record label founded in 1986 by Georg Ortmann and several others. Its declared mission is to fill niches in the recorded classical repertory, with an emphasis on romantic ...

058-2-2003

Radio adaptation

''Sari'' was presented on '' The Railroad Hour'' on 17 March 1952. Baritone

Gordon MacRae Albert Gordon MacRae (March 12, 1921 – January 24, 1986) was an American actor, singer and radio/television host who appeared in the film versions of two Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals ''Oklahoma!'' (1955) and '' Carousel'' (1956) and who p ...

and soprano

Margaret Truman Mary Margaret Truman Daniel (February 17, 1924 – January 29, 2008) was an American classical soprano, actress, journalist, radio and television personality, writer, and New York socialite. She was the only child of President Harry S. Truman a ...

starred in the episode, which also featured

Carmen Dragon Carmen Dragon (July 28, 1914 – March 28, 1984) was an American conductor, composer, and arranger who in addition to live performances and recording, worked in radio, film, and television. Early years Dragon was born in Antioch, California, ...

's orchestra and

Norman Luboff Norman Luboff (May 14, 1917 – September 22, 1987) was an American music arranger, music publisher, and choir director. Early years Norman Luboff was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1917. He studied piano as a child and participated in his high s ...

's chorus.

Notes and references

Sources

*Myers, Eric (2002)
"Kalman: ''Der Zigeunerprimas''
'' Opera News'', October 2002

External links

Detailed synopsis and list of musical numbers for ''Der Zigeunerprimas''
at musicaltheatreguide.com * {{DEFAULTSORT:Zigeunerprimas, Der Operas by Emmerich Kálmán German-language operettas 1912 operas Operas set in Hungary Fictional representations of Romani people Operas adapted into films