Franz Marszalek / Johann Strauss

Johann Strauss II, often known as the "Waltz King," was an Austrian composer and conductor who became one of the most famous and beloved figures in classical music.

Strauss helped to popularize the waltz across Europe and beyond, making it a staple of ballroom dance. His music is characterized by its lively rhythms, memorable melodies, and rich orchestration, capturing the elegance and vibrancy of 19th-century Vienna. In addition, Strauss composed operettas, polkas, and marches, contributing significantly to the light classical music repertoire. His operetta "Die Fledermaus" and "Karneval in Rom" remain two of the most frequently performed works in the genre.

Franz Marszalek was a renowned German conductor and composer, best known for his contributions to light music, operettas, and radio orchestras in the mid-20th century. Marszalek was celebrated for his ability to bring out the lively and nuanced qualities of the operetta genre, often reviving and recording forgotten works by composers. His recordings were widely praised for their clarity, precision, and spirited performances.

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KARNEVAL IN ROM

Johann Strauss' operetta premiered on March 1, 1873 at the Theater an der Wien. Conductor Franz Marszalek's arrangement, which was first performed in 1937, led to the operetta becoming widely acclaimed. Marszalek recorded this in 1950 for WDR Cologne (leading role: Peter Anders).

The successful modern revival took place on the basis of the New Johann Strauss Complete Edition Vienna at the Staatsoperette Dresden on October 29, 2004 in a production by Lutz Graf and under the musical direction of Ernst Theis.

The heart-wrenching story follows Marie, a young girl who falls in love with the traveling painter Arthur Bryk. Although he promises to marry her, Arthur leaves for Italy, where he enjoys life in Rome. Determined to be with him, Marie travels to Rome with two other painters, Robert Hesse and Benvenuto Rafaeli, and becomes Arthur’s incognito art student. Through a series of painful lessons, she teaches him the meaning of true love, and the couple finally reunites during the Carnival in Rome.