The Count of Luxembourg
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The Count of Luxembourg is an operetta in two acts with lyrics by Basil Hood and Adrian Ross, music by Franz Lehár, adapted by Basil Hood from from the German "Der Graf von Luxemburg" (with a book by A.M. Willner and Robert Bodansky). It opened at Daly's Theatre in London on 20 May 1911 and ran for 240 performances. It starred Lily Elsie and Bertram Wallis. The operetta also had a good run in New York in 1912.
There was also a silent film version in 1926. In 1983, Sadler's Wells Theatre presented a new version of the operetta, with a book by Nigel Douglas and lyrics by Eric Maschwitz and Nigel Douglas.
[edit] Synopsis
In the plot, the Grand Duke cannot marry Angela, with whom he is infatuated, unless she bears a title. He therefore induces the penniless spendthrift, Count Red, to marry a lady whose face he is not to see, and to agree to a divorce in three months. For this the Count receives the sum of £20,000 (half a million francs). At the wedding ceremony, the Count and his mystery bride are separated by a screen - but later they meet and fall in love. Little knowing that they are already husband and wife, they believe their romance is hopeless. But a happy ending is worked out, accompanied by Lehár 's lilting music and famous waltzes.
[edit] Reference
Lamb, Andrew. "Lehar's 'Count of Luxembourg'", Musical Times, Vol. 124, No. 1679 (January 1983) p. 23-25.
