Die Csárdásfürstin
Libretto by Leo Stein and Béla Jenbach
Premiere: Johann-Strauss-Theater, Vienna, November 17, 1915
Act I: Sylva Varescu, a popular Budapest cabaret singer, bids farewell to her admirers at the Orpheum Theatre before departing on an American tour. Her manager and most ardent fan is Count Boni Káncsiánu, who is to accompany her to America. Boni and his friend Feri von Kerekes see themselves as men about town who live for the night life and cabaret girls. Sylva’s heart, in actuality, beats for Prince Edwin, who declares his love for her, but has been been ordered home to Vienna by his irate father, Prince Leopold, who refuses to tolerate his son’s affair with a “chorus girl.” In fact, he has had cards printed announcing Edwin’s engagement to his cousin, Countess Stasi. Unwilling to lose Sylva, Edwin has a lawyer draw up a contract declaring her to be his wife, the contract to be legally confirmed within eight weeks. But when Boni informs Sylva that Edwin is engaged to Stasi and shows her the printed announcement, Sylva sadly resigns herself to her American trip.
Act II: Two months later, Edwin’s parents throw a party at which the engagement of Edwin and Stasi is to be formally announced. Neither relishes the idea of marrying the other, but agree that maybe they should build their nest together, but fly their separate ways for entertainment. Sylva arrives with Boni, having persuaded him to introduce her as his wife—the Countess Káncsiánu. Edwin’s parents, old friends of Boni’s, welcome the couple, as all are amused—but none the wiser—by her great similarity to the cabaret singer who had earlier signed the marriage contract with their son. Edwin is still very much in love with Sylva, while Boni becomes increasingly infatuated with Stasi. When Boni finally agrees to “divorce” Sylva, Edwin and Sylva are ecstatic. He declares to her that marriage is now possible because a divorced countess would be an acceptable mate in his social circle. But Sylva interprets this to mean that he is ashamed of her status as a cabaret singer. She announces to the party-goers that she is Sylva Varescu, shows the marriage contract to Edwin’s father, and then tears it up.
Act III: A few hours later, Sylva and Boni have retreated to Vienna’s Hotel Winkelbaum, where they unexpectedly meet an old friend from Budapest, Feri von Kerekes. Edwin arrives in pursuit of Sylva, and his father and mother arrive in pursuit of him. Feri reveals that he was once in love with a variety girl named Hilda, who, after two aristocratic marriages, subsequently married Prince Leopold. The embarassed Prince can no longer oppose his son’s marriage to a woman of the stage, and there will soon be a double wedding for Edwin and Sylva, and Boni and Stasi.
