Gold gab ich für Eisen

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Libretto by Victor Léon 

Premiere:  Theater an der Wien, Vienna, October 17, 1914 

Revision of Der gute Kamerad 

Karoline, the lady of an Austrian castle, and her daughter Marlene await the arrival of their son and brother Franz from a long absence at war. It is not Franz who arrives, however, but rather his friend Alwin who, unable to break the news to the women that Franz has apparently been killed in action, assumes the identity of his wartime friend. Obvious complications arise when Alwin falls in love with Marlene and she experiences non-brotherly feelings toward him. Fearing the effect that the news might have on her frail mother, Marlene urges Alwin never to inform Karoline of her son’s death. He decides that he must tell her, but on the brink of doing so, is interrupted by the arrival of a singing Franz, who had only been wounded. All can now be explained, as Marlene and Alwin inform Karoline of their true feelings for one another.