Gipsy Love (Zigeunerliebe)


Composer: Lehar, Franz 1870 - 1948

Version: Operatic Society version - translation by Phil Park, music adapted by Ronald Hanmer

Lehár’s Zigeunerliebe (Gypsy Love - 1909) is one of three operettas the composer produced in a three-month period following his somewhat unsuccessful Der Mann mit den drei Frauen (1908). Zigeunerliebe, however, was a great success, with Lehár’s score proving to be one of his most melodically inventive, harmonically daring, and instrumentally colourful. SYNOPSIS: Zorika is engaged to Jonel. On the day of their engagement party, she meets Józsi, a gypsy and violinist, who is Jonel’s half-brother. Józsi talks of the love that she will soon be enjoying with her fiancé, but his words speak of feelings that, in fact, Zorika has never experienced with Jonel. Zorika has to pull herself together to remember her duty towards her fiancé. The second Act is Zorika’s dream, in which she has lived with Józsi for two years and their love has turned into a nightmare. When she wakes up (in Act 3), the engagement party is continuing, and Zorika pledges her lovel for Jonel.

Instrumentation
1.1.2.1. / 2.2.2.0. / Timp / Perc / Hp / Str

Publisher
GV


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