Operetta in three acts by Imre Kalman
Libretto: Julius Brahmer and Alfred Grunwald
Main characters:
Countess Maritza - soprano
Count Tassilo Wittenburg - tenor
Prince Moritz Dragomir Populescu - bass-baritone
Baron Coloman Jupan - tenor
Lisa, sister of Count Tasilo - soprano
Baron Karl Steffen Liebenberg - tenor
Manya, young gypsy - mezzo-soprano
Princess Bozhena Kudenstein - soprano
Panicek, her valet baritone.
Checo - tenor
Two cavaliers
Short synopsis:
First act
Countess Maritza’s estate in Hungary. She no longer resides permanently in her provincial home. She has appointed Béla Török as the estate manager - someone she has never actually met. However, Béla Török is, in reality, a nobleman - Count Tassilo Endrődy-Wittenburg, who lost his fortune due to his father’s debts. The count applied for the position under the name of the former steward of his family’s estate, which had been sold to cover the debts. He is forced to work in order to save money for his younger sister Liza’s dowry. Tassilo is determined to arrange a marriage for his sister with a man of noble lineage. Unaware of the family's grave financial troubles, Liza still lives in a boarding school for young ladies.
On the terrace of the manor house, the young Romani girl Manja sings a melancholic song about happiness. A stranger arrives, introducing himself as Baron Karl Stefan Liebenberg and asking to see the estate manager. When the two men meet, Tassilo begs his friend to keep his true identity a secret. Karl Stefan informs him that he has fulfilled his request—he has sold all his properties and repaid the family's debts. The baron urges the young count to seek help from his wealthy aunt. Never! Tassilo responds firmly, his pride unshaken. Besides, at this moment, he feels at home in the beautiful estate, where he also has the opportunity to earn enough money for his sister’s dowry. Of course, Tassilo still longs for his past life in the capital, for his friends. He asks Karl Stefan to send his regards to Vienna.
Prince Moritz Dragomir Populescu, a friend of Countess Maritza, arrives to announce that the countess is coming to the estate to celebrate her engagement. The name of her fiancé sounds rather peculiar, almost operatic - Baron Koloman Zsupán! And here comes the countess herself. The people of the estate welcome their mistress with a song, and Maritza, moved by the gypsy violins, responds with a fiery csárdás. The young countess dreams of happiness in love. Maritza thanks Prince Populescu for arranging the engagement but regretfully announces that her fiancé is unable to attend. Exactly at six o’clock, the two of them will celebrate the occasion - she at her estate, and he at his own.
Tassilo introduces himself, and Maritza receives him favorably. It turns out that the countess knows his sister, Liza, and has invited her to the estate as a guest. Tassilo is horrified at the thought of being exposed, while Maritza misinterprets his unease as the sign of a possible romantic entanglement. She enters the house with her guests. But how should Tassilo behave with his sister? Karl Stefan suggests that he tell her the whole truth. Liza arrives, already aware that Maritza has hired the former steward of their family estate. When she realizes that the steward is actually her own brother, she assumes that Tassilo must be in love and is testing his beloved without revealing his identity. Tassilo cannot bring himself to burden her with their family troubles, but he asks her to keep his secret. Liza eagerly joins in the charade. Overjoyed by their reunion, Liza and Tassilo reminisce about the happy moments of their childhood. As they walk into the garden, Maritza steps out onto the terrace with one of her friends. She confesses that she is not engaged and that there is no Baron Zsupán. She deliberately placed an announcement in the newspapers about a fictitious engagement, using the name of the famous character from the operetta The Gypsy Baron, to deter the advances of annoying suitors who, she is certain, are only after her wealth.
At this moment, to everyone's surprise, the servants announce the arrival of Baron Koloman Zsupán from Varaždin. The real Koloman Zsupán, having learned about his supposed engagement from the newspapers, rushes to meet his beautiful fiancée, immediately falling in love with her. He persistently invites Maritza to his estate in Varaždin, and she, with great effort, manages to restrain the young baron's fiery temperament. The engagement celebration begins in the house. Tassilo is left alone on the terrace. Overcome with sadness, he reminisces about the days when he was the "handsome knight of the csárdás." The truth is, Tassilo has also fallen in love with his beautiful mistress at first sight. He doesn't notice, as he sings, that Maritza has quietly stepped out onto the terrace, followed by the entire group. The countess asks her steward to sing the song again - this time for all her guests. But the proud count refuses - he is no fool to entertain his masters. Angered, Maritza immediately fires him. To save the situation, Zsupán suggests that they all go to the nearby town and have some fun at the "Tabarin" tavern. The guests eagerly agree.
While everyone prepares, the Romani girl Manja predicts to Maritza that within the next four weeks, she will fall in love with a handsome man of noble birth. Confused and moved by the prophecy, Maritza decides to stay at home. Her guests leave without her. Tassilo comes to say goodbye, but Maritza, now in a good mood, reverses her decision to dismiss him and suggests that they be friends.
Now, Tassilo is ready to sing his song again – only for Maritza.
Second act
Four weeks later, Countess Maritza and her steward get along wonderfully. Koloman Zsupán arrives at the estate once again, and it is now evident that Liza is fond of the elegant and cheerful young baron. He loves her as well, but his engagement to Maritza is an obstacle that, however, will not hinder their love.
Tassilo wants to talk to Maritza about the management of the estate. She finds the topic boring. The countess wonders why someone like her estate manager has such delicate and well-maintained hands – like a true aristocrat. She doesn't want to know anything about financial and economic issues; she just wants to have fun with him as if he were of her own rank. The steward would be happy to spend time with Maritza. He dares to point out that she is the one hindering her own happiness because she doesn't trust any man. Maritza agrees, but... If we imagine that she is madly in love and... Let’s imagine – just imagine, that it is he who is the object of her love... What would Tassilo say? "Heavens, what happened today, that I am so blessed!" – he would exclaim joyfully. Maritza and Tassilo begin to dance. After a while, the steward returns to reality and goes back to work.
Zsupán enters, and his fiancée is cold and reserved. She does not wish to marry him. Zsupán adds that their marriage is impossible because his lawyers have presented his grandfather’s will, which stipulates that he must marry a poor young woman. If he doesn’t, he will not inherit anything. Maritza is greatly relieved, but she storms out of the room angrily when Zsupán tells her that she could give him all her money. Liza arrives, and Zsupán enthusiastically announces that everything is over between him and Maritza. From the girl’s reaction, he realizes that she is in love with him. And although they still speak in half-words, they both know that they are meant for each other.
Prince Populescu arrives with the entire musical troupe from "Tabarin." Since Maritza hasn’t gone to join them, they decide to come to her to celebrate once more. Joy and merriment fill the hall, while the gloomy Tassilo remains outside. He decides to write a letter to his friend Karl Stefan. Maritza comes to him because she feels more at ease with him than with all the guests inside. Tassilo shares his past and almost confesses the truth. But Maritza, sensing that he is drawing her in more and more, wants to hear what he would say if she were just a poor girl. He pulls her close and sings, “Say yes, my love, say yes.” Maritza blissfully relaxes in his embrace. They are interrupted by Prince Populescu, and Tassilo quickly disappears. The prince becomes jealous and tells Maritza that he saw Tassilo kiss Countess Liza. He also suspects that this "steward" is hiding his true identity. The final blow comes when Maritza accidentally finds Tassilo's letter to Karl Stefan and reads the lines where Tassilo writes that he will not rest until he achieves his goal - her dowry and a better future. Now, Maritza is convinced that Tassilo only wants her money.
The guests arrive, dancing. Deceived and heartbroken, Maritza, through tears, puts on a facade of joy as she sings and dances a czardas. When Tassilo arrives, she treats him with complete disdain, like a servant. Now she knows who he truly is, and angrily throws a large sum of money at his feet. Maritza gives him the money with one condition: Tassilo must never speak of love in her presence again! Desperate, Tassilo accepts the money. Hurt as much as Maritza, he also sings a czardas before leaving. Then, he throws all the money to the gypsies who accompanied him. Maritza recalls the gypsy woman's prediction, and at that moment, Tassilo goes to Liza: "Sister, you will be happy instead of me," he says, and the two leave, holding hands. The guests are stunned. It is only now that they realize Liza is Tassilo's sister! Maritza instantly understands how truly happy she is - now she knows that Tassilo is faithful to her.
Third act
The next morning, the whole company is still celebrating. Maritza suddenly realizes that she no longer has a steward and must manage everything in the estate herself. The young woman doesn't like working at all, so she decides to postpone the affairs and that evening, everyone will go to the town to celebrate and dance the czardas. "Dark-haired girl from the wasteland," sing Maritza, Populiescu, and Zupan, getting ready for the evening. The two men go to their rooms, and Tassilo enters to say goodbye to Maritza forever. She tries to break the ice between them, but both are too proud to speak openly. Tassilo bitterly complains about how difficult it is to deal with women, although in the end, one cannot live without them. Liza tells Zupan that she is completely poor. His reaction is unexpected - what a joy! Now, they can marry and fulfill the condition of his grandfather’s will. Carl Stephan arrives and tells Tassilo that his rich aunt has bought back all the family estates. The count is wealthy again and now worthy of Maritza. Carl Stephan tries to convince him to speak openly with her, but Tassilo exclaims: “How can I simply tell her that I love her!” However, Maritza has overheard his words - nothing can now stand in the way of their happiness.
History
The setting of Countess Maritza is Hungary, the homeland of the composer. The audience is transported to the estate of the countess in 1924, during one of the most dazzling and romantic periods following World War I. The story unfolds with an exceptional and captivating musical landscape, filled with beautiful melodies, brought to life by exotic gypsy rhythms and the irresistible passion of the Hungarian czardas, which imbue the narrative of the wealthy and beautiful Countess Maritza's tale.
Countess Maritza yearns for a true and spiritually pure love, untainted by the weight of material wealth that comes with her enormous fortune. To protect herself from suitors aiming for her riches, the inventive countess announces a fake engagement. The melancholic Hungarian-Gypsy melodies poignantly evoke the nostalgia and sorrow for the longed-for love of the beautiful Maritza. After a series of unforeseen events and endless twists, triggered by Countess Maritza's unconventional idea, the plot of the work leads everyone into the brilliance of triumphant, sparkling joy.
The unforgettable musical pleasure of the happy ending of this thrilling tale about the power of love stays in the hearts of the audience.
