''Baron Trenck'' is a

comic opera Comic opera, sometimes known as light opera, is a sung dramatic work of a light or comic nature, usually with a happy ending and often including spoken dialogue. Forms of comic opera first developed in late 17th-century Italy. By the 1730s, a ne ...

in three acts loosely based on the life of Baron Franz von der Trenck. The original German-language work was composed by Felix Albini to a libretto by

Alfred Maria Willner Alfred Maria Willner (11 July 1859 – 27 October 1929) was an Austrian writer, philosopher, musicologist, composer and librettist. Biography Alfred Maria Willner was born and died in Vienna. He began composing mostly music for the piano and eve ...

and Robert Bodanzky and premiered at the Stadttheater in

Leipzig Leipzig (, ; ; Upper Saxon: ; ) is the most populous city in the States of Germany, German state of Saxony. The city has a population of 628,718 inhabitants as of 2023. It is the List of cities in Germany by population, eighth-largest city in Ge ...

in 1908. The English version, adapted by Frederick Franklin Schrader and

Henry Blossom Henry Martyn Blossom Jr. (May 10, 1866 – March 23, 1919) was an American writer, playwright, novelist, opera librettist, and lyricist. He first gained wide attention for his second novel, '' Checkers: A Hard Luck Story'' (1896), which was succes ...

, ran for just 43 performances at the Strand Theatre in London in 1911. It starred Walter Passmore, Walter Hyde and

Caroline Hatchard Caroline Gertrude Hatchard (12 October 1883 – 7 January 1970) was a British lyric soprano, musical theatre and opera singer of the 20th-century who was the first English-born and trained soprano to be engaged by the Royal Opera House in Cov ...

Production

Based on a 1908 German work of the same name first performed at the Stadttheater in

, ''Baron Trenck'' ran at the Whitney Theatre (Novello Theatre, Strand Theatre) from 22 April 22nd to 3 June 1911. The original score was by Felix Albini with additional music by Alfred G. Robyn to a book and lyrics by

and Robert Bodanzky. The English version was adapted by Frederick Franklin Schrader and

, while the Director and choreographer was Al Holbrook and the Musical Director was Antonio de Novellis. When Fred Whitney took over the lease of the Waldorf/Strand Theatre he chose to rename it the Whitney, opening his first season with ''Baron Trenck''. The opening night audience were not enthusiastic with some booing during the third act at what ''

The Stage ''The Stage'' is a British weekly newspaper and website covering the entertainment industry and particularly theatre. Founded in 1880, ''The Stage'' contains news, reviews, opinion, features, and recruitment advertising, mainly directed at thos ...

'' called the "weak, heavy and uninteresting" book. However, ''The Stage'' praised the music and the general performance with ''

The Times ''The Times'' is a British Newspaper#Daily, daily Newspaper#National, national newspaper based in London. It began in 1785 under the title ''The Daily Universal Register'', adopting its modern name on 1 January 1788. ''The Times'' and its si ...

'' writing that Walter Hyde performed "heroically".

was "a bewitching Countess Lydia, at her wit's end over the constant dallying of her rapscallion lover, Trenck ... she acts interestingly, but her voice, admirably and so easily used by turns for comedy, tenderness and passion, would win its way anywhere." Various cut and alterations were made in an attempt to improve the show but despite these it ran for just 43 performances. The

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street ** Broadway Theatre (53rd Stre ...

production opened at the Casino Theatre in New York from 11 March to 13 April 1912 where it did even less well – running for just 40 performances.

Synopsis

The story is loosely based on the life of Baron Franz von der Trenck. The

is set in Austria in 1743 during the reign of Marie Therese of Austria. Two of Baron Trenck's tenants, Nikola and Mariza, have avoided the Baron's seigniorial rights (in this sanitized version the Baron has the right to kiss the bride), by getting married without his permission. Meanwhile, the Baron saves Countess Lydia from being kidnapped by Alla Wunja and his band of marauding Haiduks. Wanting a kiss as his reward the Countess flees on horseback, assisted by Nikola and Mariza. All later meet at the Empress's chateau, where Lydia, who secretly loves the Baron, is coerced by her Aunt Cornelia into accepting the marriage proposal of the elderly French Ambassador, the Marquis de Bouillaibaise. In a sudden twist the show ends with Countess Lydia and Baron Trenck joined together.

Cast

* Walter Passmore – Nikola * Marie George – Mariza * Walter Hyde – Baron Trenck *

– Countess Lydia * William McLaughlin – Alla Wunja (Chief of the Haiduks) *

Herbert Sparling Herbert Sparling (1864–1944) was a British comedy and musical theatre actor and director. In 1889 Sparling was sued for breach of contract at Brompton County Court by the "dramatic author" Henry Plunkett Gratton (1808–1889), who alleged ...

– Marquis de Bouillaibaise * Molly Lowell – Cornelia * Rutland Barrington – Herr Dinkelspieler-Kietzerlmayer (Master of Ceremonies, afterwards Major Domo to the Empress) * Norman Greene – Herald * Johnny Danvers – Wurzberger (a Court Poet) * Charles Ure – Count Von Grazt * Katherine Fielder – Countess Von Grazt *

Zoe Gordon Zoe or variants may refer to: People * Zoe (name), including a list of people and fictional characters with the name ** Zoë (British singer) (Zoë Pollock, born 1969) ** Zoë (Austrian singer) (Zoë Straub, born 1996) Arts and entertainment F ...

– Fortuna *Eleanor Wilson – First Page *Dora Christian – Second Page J. P. Wearing
''The London Stage 1910–1919: A Calendar of Productions, Performers, and Personnel''
Rowman & Littlefield (2014) – Google Books

Songs

The songs included: Act 1: A Farmyard in Slavonia *Opening Chorus: Blend Your Voices – Mariza, Nikola, Master of Ceremonies and Chorus *Oh Save Me – Lydia, Mariza, Nikola, Master of Ceremonies *This Handsome Soldier is too Bold – Lydia, Mariza and Nikola *You Villains – Lydia, Trenck, Nikola, Alla Wunja, Haiduks Chorus Act 2: The Empress Maria Theresa's Chateau, near Vienna *How splendid these Halls – Herald and Chorus *Miriza Darling here you are – Mariza and Nikola *A Pandour Does His Duty – Mariza, Cornelia, Nikola, Wurzburger, Master of Ceremonies, Alla Wunja *Angel at Last again I Find you – Trenck and Lydia Act 3: A Room in Cornelia's Villa in Vienna *With Song and Cheer – Lydia and Chorus *Cupid is a Merry Knave – Lydia and Trenck *Rumwid i Bum – Principals and Chorus Other songs included: *Just Like You *A Kiss for a Dance *Once Upon a Time *Goodbye Baron *When a Pretty Girl Gets Married *In Merry, Merry May! *Things Romantic Are My Delight (Waltz Song) – Lydia *Trenck is My Name (March Song) – Trenck

References

External links

Photographs from the 1912 Broadway production of ''Baron Trenck''
–

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Digital Collections {{DEFAULTSORT:Baron Trenck 1911 operas English comic operas English-language operas Operas Operas based on real people Operas set in the 18th century Cultural depictions of military officers Cultural depictions of Austrian people Operas set in Austria 1911 musicals Musicals set in Austria West End musicals Broadway musicals British musicals Operas by Henry Blossom