Prelude

After the overture, the curtain rises on a village on the Rhine. A theatre troupe headed by Director Hummel is presenting a chivalric drama. Lotti, the niece of the innkeeper Wegerer, is enthusiastic about the presentation; she is to leave Wegerer's house soon because he fears a romance between her and his son. For her part, Lotti has very different ideas about the ideal man. Theatre Director Hummel reveals major news to his troupe; he has been named the director of a little town theater and expects decisive improvements in his living conditions from this post. Hummel and Wegerer agree that Lotti can go with the theater troupe to the town. Lotti answers the question about her talent with a song: 'Schön Gretelein'.

Hummel promises Lotti that he will make her a star. Out of gratitude for a generous gift, a gypsy foretells to Lotti that her three wishes [happiness, wealth, love] ,will be granted if she confides them to a star falling from the sky. The theater company sets out with Lotti toward the town.

Act 1

A year has passed since the prelude. The setting of the action is now the splendid house of the factory owner Fogosch. The servants at Fogosch's house have prepared everything for a big party; only the guests are lacking. Fogosch would like to marry his daughter Käthe to Fedor, the son of Baroness Besebeck. Käthe however, shows more interest in her cousin, Lieutenant Fritz. From the entrance duet between Baroness Besebeck and Fedor, we learn that he has lost his heart to an artist and would very much prefer to get out of his engagement to Käthe. Fogosch must admit to himself that there are no guests in his house for the party. Lieutenant Fritz, summoned by Käthe, comes to the castle with his cadets and sings praise to the irresistibility of soldiers. Käthe reveals her father's plans to Fritz and again wants to win him for herself. Käthe declares that one can get almost anything from her father when one simply asks for the opposite.

The theatre company comes to the castle and underscores the versatility of its actors by agreeing that they act as the party guests. The party seems to be saved, and the roles of the guests are assigned. Lotti underscores her multifaced ness in a multilingual dance song. Fogosch and the Baroness leave Käthe and Fedor alone. Käthe tells Fedor to his face that she loves Fritz. He is very happy about it, for he also loves another. It is decided that they will 'divorce before the wedding engagement on the grounds of antipathy.' Käthe and Fedor imagine how horrible their life together would have been. Fogosch presents one of the guests, 'Count Senders' in the person of Theater Director Hummel, to the Baroness. Nobody imagines, however, that the Baroness Besebeck knows the real Count. Major complications emerge in the dialogue. Lotti recognizes Fedor as the man who promised her eternal love and for whom she wanted to leave the theatre. Lotti reads the last love letter that she received from Fedor and sums up: 'So men lie on pink paper!

The party at Fogosch's house reaches its high point. Fogosch wants to announce the engagement of Käthe and Fedor, but Lotti reveals to all that Fedor promised her eternal love and sees her lucky star falling. In addition, she reveals that the 'guests' are actors incognito. The Baroness feels that she has been completely duped and quickly leaves the party with Fedor. Since the engagement between Fedor and Käthe has failed to come about, Käthe now turns with pleasure to her cousin Fritz.

Act 2

On the next morning the town railway station serves as the setting of the action. The Baroness and Fedor missed the train the evening before and are still present. The soldiers arrive and prepare for their departure on manoeuvers. Hummel also praises his wife in the famous couplet 'Dünn, dünn, war die Leopoldin' [better known in English as 'Thin this is my dear Gwendolyn' although it never becomes clear whether his wife is involved in the operetta at all. Fritz arrives raving about the night he has spent with Käthe. Fritz and Käthe cleverly get Fogosch to change his mind, so that he agrees to a marriage. Hummel also promises to help Lotti to obtain her happiness and again brings her together with Fedor. The four lovers once and for all are reunited; the two pairs, Lotti and Fedor and Käthe and Fritz, praise love and their future happiness.

Now all that has to be done is to get the Baroness to agree to the wedding between Lotti and Fedor. Hummel reveals to the Baroness that he was her former lover and threatens to make it known to all that she too was once on the stage. Under such pressure, the Baroness agrees to the marriage. The gypsy's prophecy is fulfilled, and 'the three wishes' are realized. Everybody is happy and content; the soldiers and cadets and the comic players all go on their way, and for the latter, the time of their cares is passé.

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Carl Michael Ziehrer

Born in Vienna on 2 May 1843, died in Vienna on 14 November 1922, Carl Michael Ziehrer was the last renowned representative of Viennese dance music in the classical era of the Viennese waltz. He soon became known as a composer, and his music could compete with popular Strauss compositions. From 1885 to 1893 Ziehrer was the bandmaster of the Hoch- und Deutschmeister- Regiment; subsequently, he founded his own orchestra and for many years undertook successful concert tours with it at home and abroad. In 1908 Ziehrer was named the last Imperial and Royal Court Ball Music Director. Although he was a distinguished citizen of the City of Vienna, he ended up spending the last years of his life in more than modest circumstances. Ziehrer wrote almost six hundred works (waltzes, polkas, and marches).