Der Zigeunerbaron

Der Zigeunerbaron ("The Gypsy Baron") is a German operetta in three acts by Johann Strauss II ()[], with libretto by Ignaz Schnitzer ()[].

The original text

The story, of the marriage of a landowner returned from exile and a gypsy girl, who is revealed as the daughter of a Turkish pasha and the rightful owner of a hidden treasure, the libretto is based on the Hungarian novel Saffi by Moritz (Mór) Jokai ()[], and the operetta was first performed in the Theater an den Wien in Vienna on 14 October, 1884. 24 October 1885??

Translations and adaptations

The title and libretto translated into English as The Gypsy Baron by Ruth and Thomas Martin.

US premiere took place on 15 February 1886. In the UK it was first performed on 12 February 1935 in an amateur production. The UK professional premiere took place on 10 March 1938 at the Theatre Royal, Nottingham, as part of the Carl Rosa Opera Company's spring season there.[1]

Performance history in South Africa

1953: Performed by the Johannesburg Operatic and Dramatic Society (JODS)

1962: Performed by the Port Elizabeth Gilbert & Sullivan Society in the .

1963: Performed by the Witwatersrand University's Choral Society in the Wits Great Hall,

1988: Performed by the School of Music of the University of the Witwatersrand in The Wits Theatre in May and June, Directed by Dawie Coezyn, directed by Walter Mony with voice coaching by Joyce Barker, musical supervision by Michael Strauss, designs by Paul Roumanoff and choreography by Wally Green. The stage director was Johan Kupferburger. The production was endowed by the JODS Trust.

Sources

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Gypsy_Baron

Programme of the 1988 production by the Wits School of Music.

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