Editing Die Zirkusprinzessin

{{redirect|The Circus Princess}}
{{italic title}}[[File:Kálmán_Imre_cropped_(Willinger_Vilmos,_1924).jpg|thumb|[[Emmerich Kálmán]]]]'''''{{Lang|de|Die Zirkusprinzessin}}''''' (''The Circus Princess'') is an [[operetta]] in three acts by Hungarian composer [[Emmerich Kálmán]] to a German [[libretto]] by [[Julius Brammer]] and [[Alfred Grünwald (librettist)|Alfred Grünwald]]. It premiered at the [[Theater an der Wien]] in Vienna on 26 March 1926 and went on to 344 performances there.<ref>Traubner, Richard (2003) p. 271.</ref>

==Synopsis==

The plot revolves around a romantic intrigue with interpolated circus sequences. The mysterious "Mister X", a dashing circus performer, is hired by a disappointed suitor of Princess Fedora Palinska to pose as a nobleman and marry her. "Mister X" is in fact a nobleman, the disinherited nephew of a deceased prince. One of the work's most well-known arias, ''{{Lang|de|Zwei Märchenaugen}}'' (Two fairy-tale eyes), has been recorded by several famous [[tenors]], including [[Fritz Wunderlich]],<ref>''The Very Best of Fritz Wunderlich'' (EMI Classics 75915)</ref> [[Charles Kullman]],<ref>''Charles Kullman - European Columbia Recordings'' (Nimbus Prima Voce NI7939)</ref> and [[Richard Tauber]].<ref>''Richard Tauber – Pardon, Madame!'' (Dutton CDBP9783)</ref>

==International productions==

The operetta was swiftly performed in [[Hungary]], in an adaptation by Ernő Kulinyi and Imre Liptai, at the Király Színház in [[Budapest]], on 24 September 1926. Productions in [[Sweden]] ([[Stockholm]], Vasa-Teatern, October 6, 1926); [[Germany]] ([[Hamburg]], Operetten-Teater, October 17, 1926), and - as ''[[Mister X (1958 film)|Mister X]]'' - in [[Russia]] ([[Moscow]], November 23, 1926). There were also productions during 1926 in [[Czechoslovakia]], [[Italy]], [[Finland]] and [[Poland]].

An English language version, ''The Circus Princess'', adapted by [[Harry B. Smith]] - first seen at the [[Apollo Theatre (Atlantic City, New Jersey)|Apollo Theatre]], [[Atlantic City]], on April 4, 1927 - enjoyed a successful run at the [[Winter Garden Theatre]] in [[New York City]] from 25 April 1927 starring Guy Robertson, Desiree Tabor, and [[Robert O'Connor (actor)|Robert O'Connor]]. The circus sequences in the American production were particularly lavish, including equestrians, [[Trapeze|aerialists]], and a famous clown of the day, [[Poodles Hanneford]].<ref>Smith, Cecil (1981) p. 159.</ref> The show was staged by [[J. C. Huffman]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Hischak|first=Thomas S.|title=Enter the Playmakers: Directors and Choreographers on the New York Stage |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DCTUkTpL8V8C&pg=PA59|access-date=2014-05-30 |date=2006-01-01|publisher=Scarecrow Press|isbn=978-0-8108-5747-6}}</ref>

==Roles==
{| class="wikitable"
!Role
!Voice type
!Premiere cast, 26 March 1926<br>(Conductor: – )
|-
|Fedja Palinski, ''Mr X''  
|[[tenor]]
|[[Hubert Marischka]]
|-
|Princess Fedora Palinska  
|[[soprano]]
|[[Mizzi Zwerenz]]
|-	
|Miss Mabel Gibson 
|soprano
|[[Elsie Altmann]]
|-
|Toni Schlumberger  
|tenor
|Fritz Steiner
|-
|Prinz Sergius Wladimir   
|[[baritone]]
|Richard Waldemar 
|-
|Count Sakusin   
|
|
|-	 
|Lieutenant Petrovitsch  
|
|
|-	 
|Director Stanislawski   
|[[bass (voice type)|bass]]
|[[Hans Moser (actor)]]
|-
|Carla Schlumberger, ''hotel manager'' 
|[[contralto]]
|Betty Fischer 
|-
|Samuel Pressburger  
|
|
|-
| colspan="3"|''Society, officers, circus people – chorus''
|}

==Recordings==
*Emmerich Kálmán: ''Die Zirkusprinzessin'' – [[Margit Schramm]] (soprano), Guggi Löwinger (soprano), Julius Katona (tenor), [[Rudolf Schock]] (tenor), [[Ferry Gruber]] (tenor); [[Deutsche Oper Berlin]] (chorus); Berliner Symphoniker (orchestra); [[Robert Stolz]] (conductor), Label: Eurodisc.

==Films==
Several ''{{Lang|de|Zirkusprinzessin}}'' films have been made, including ''[[The Circus Princess (1925 film)|The Circus Princess]]'' in 1925, ''[[Mister X (1958 film)|Mister X]]'' in 1958 and ''[[The Circus Princess (1982 film)|The Circus Princess]]'' in 1982.

==Notes and references==
{{Reflist}}
* {{Almanacco|dmy=26-03-1926|match=Die Zirkusprinzessin}}
* Martin, Jessie Wright (2005) [https://web.archive.org/web/20160303230357/http://etd.lsu.edu/docs/available/etd-06142005-160600/unrestricted/Martin_thesis.pdf ''A Survey of the Operettas of Emmerich Kalman''], PhD. Thesis: Louisiana State University, August 2005.
* Naxos Records, [https://web.archive.org/web/20080626024819/http://www.naxosdirect.com/title/8.550942 Liner Notes], ''The Best of Operetta'' Vol. 2.
* Smith, Cecil (1981) [https://books.google.com/books?id=vIt6mArgiG8C&dq=%22Circus+Princess%22+Kalman&pg=PA159 ''Musical Comedy in America: From the Black Crook Through Sweeney Todd''] Routledge. {{ISBN|0-87830-564-5}}
* [[Richard Traubner|Traubner, Richard]] (2003) [https://books.google.com/books?id=cyC-YCK7FigC&dq=%22Circus+Princess%22+Kalman&pg=PA271 ''Operetta: A Theatrical History''], Routledge. {{ISBN|0-415-96641-8}}

{{Emmerich Kálmán}}
{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Zirkusprinzessin}}
[[Category:Operas by Emmerich Kálmán]]
[[Category:Music of Hungary]]
[[Category:German-language operettas]]
[[Category:Operas]]
[[Category:1926 operas]]
[[Category:Operas adapted into films]]
[[Category:Musicals by Harry B. Smith]]