Maske in Blau

• Evelyne Valera, a rich plantation owner (soprano )
• Armando Cellini, Painter ( tenor)
• Juliska Varady ( soubrette )
• Joseph Fraunhofer ( Tenorbuffo )
• Franz Kilian ( singing comedian )
• Marchese Cavalotti (actor)
• Gonzala, Majordomo Evelyne Valera (actor)
• Pedro dal Vegas ( actor)
• Two Gauchos (actor)
• A host (actor)
• Front Office Manager at Grand Hotel (actor)
• Painters, hotel guests, hotel staff, servants, Argentinean folk, Gaucho (choir, ballet, supernumeraries )

Mask in Blue is a great operetta in two parts ( six frames ) with the music of Fred Raymond and libretto by Heinz Hentschke and Günther Schwenn. The work was premiered on September 27, 1937 at the Metropol Theater in Berlin.

Orchestra

Two flutes, two oboes, two clarinets (or clarinet and saxophone ), two bassoons, three horns, two trumpets, three trombones, a harp, celesta, percussion and strings

Action

Place and time

The first part of the operetta (Figs. 1 to 3) plays in San Remo, Italy and the second part (Figs. 4 to 6) on the Rio Negro in Argentina at the time of the premiere, so in the 1930s.

Part I

Armando Cellini is a celebrated artist. With his picture " Maske in Blau " he could win the first prize in a competition and thus make a breakthrough in the art market. Exactly one year ago the painting was created when he was a guest at a ball and an unfamiliar Beautiful portraits. Since then, this woman haunts him again and again in his head. Because she had promised to come to the day in a year, he hopes to see them today. He recognize her without her blue mask, he had given her after the completion of the picture a ring and asked her to wear these on their return.

Evelyne Valera, a wealthy plantation owner from Argentina, arrives with her ​​entourage at the Grand Hotel. Each operetta visitors suspect that this must be the "Mask in Blue ", and is therefore correct. The lady intends to visit the artist in his studio.

Armando Cellini is waiting longingly on visiting the beautiful stranger. When it rings, he thinks he is already on the target, but the same bitterly disappointed. A strange gentleman enters his studio and poses as Pedro dal Vegas. The only thing that interests him is the painting "Mask in Blue". But his request, the painter may sell him this remains unfulfilled.

Shortly after Pedro dal Vegas has left the painter's workshop, a new host announces. This time it is the awaited " Maske in Blau ". The painter recognizes the same on their ring. It immediately begins to spark between the two and they confess their love.

The next day, a street festival is celebrated in San Remo. This leads to the second meeting between Armando Cellini and Pedro dal Vegas. This would achieve by all means the favor of the wealthy plantation owner in order to rehabilitate his finances. Because he has noticed that their heart beats for the artist Cellini, he harbors a sinister plan: He managed to steal from Evelyne handbag the ring. He gives him now, allegedly on behalf of the owner, to the Schenker back. Armando Cellini, just yet exhilarated, is now dying of sorrow. Such a rapid change of his beloved, he had not imagined.

In the ballroom of his palace of the Marchese Cavalotti will host a reception in honor of his protege Armando Cellini. Here come Gonzala, the majordomo of Evelyne Valera, and Franz Kilian, Armando's best friend, talk to each other. Gonzala it would look like if his boss would take the painter to manhood. But he fears that he could make the rank of the dispute windy Pedro dal Vegas. The two therefore resolve to play fate. As the festival strives towards its climax, they announce in front of all the guests, Evelyne Valera and Armando Cellini had just become engaged. The latter is appalled, but he feels abused as a plaything of the wealthy plantation owner. But this is no different. Furious, she leaves the Palazzo.

Part II

Evelyne has since returned back to their hacienda on the Rio Grande and tried to forget Armando Cellini, but it does not succeed. Meanwhile, nursing her majordomo a lively correspondence with Armando's friend Franz Kilian. The two do not give up, the couple still together. But Pedro dal Vegas holds tenaciously to conquer Evelyne. However, it is uncertain whether they will give in his promotion.

Suddenly a Postreiter seam with a telegram for the landowner. The scheming Vegas manages to catch the telegram and read it. This Armando Cellini announces he is landed with a few friends in the nearby provincial capital, and I will soon visit on their property; for he had learned in the meantime, the way in which the detection ring had come into the possession dal Vegas ' at the time. Immediately the Argentine grabs the next best horse to ride to the provincial capital. He is, however, noticed that one of the gaucho has noticed how he embezzled the telegram. Hardly has set the Majordomo on notice of the Gaucho, as this does not hesitate and rides after the crooks.

After Armondo Cellini had given up the telegram in the provincial capital, he heard the rumor, Evelyne's engagement with Pedro dal Vegas was imminent. Without thinking twice, he went straight to the path to the Hacienda. Halfway it comes against the fraudulent Argentines. It is understood the painter to make these so ready that he finally gives up his marriage plans with respect to Evelyne.

When a little later the Majordomo arrives with Armando's friends on the hacienda, all celebrate a joyous festival, in which there is of course the expected engagement.

Musical Highlights

• The Juliska, the Juliska from Buda, Budapest, she has a heart of pepper
• Show a beautiful woman not too deep in the eyes, because what you look promises, that does not stop
• At the Rio Negro, as a small sleepy house ( duet )
• Sassa, Sassa! ( The title was very well known especially by the presentation of the Mainz carnival minstrels in numerous sessions. )
• Yes, Temp'rament, yes, that Temp'rament, yes that is in my blood
• In you I have found my happiness ( duet )
• Maske in Blau - Mask in Blue

Media

Large cross section at EURODISC with Marika Rokk, Rudolf Schock, Margit Schramm and the Berlin Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Werner Schmidt- Boelcke