A Waltz Dream (Ein Walzertraum)

Music by Oscar Straus
Original book by Felix Dormann and Leopold Jacobson
Based on a short story by Hans Miller called Buch der Abenteuer
English lyrics by Adrian Ross
Adapted for COT by Daniel Pantano from the English libretti by Basil Hood, and Grace Isabel Coilbron.
First production: March 2, 1907 – Carl Theater, Vienna
First USA production: Chestnut Street Opera House, Philadelphia, January 6, 1908

ACT I – The act is set in the throne room of the castle of Prince Joachim XIII in Flausenthurm. It is the wedding day of his daughter, Princess Hélène, who marries handsome young Niki, Lieutenant of Hussars. Princess Hélène met and fell in love with him while on a trip to Vienna, and insisted on marrying Niki, the man of her choice. But the combination of court etiquette and the hostility of Grand Duke, Count Lothar, the Prince’s cousin, who himself hoped to marry Princess Hélène, have conspired to turn the love’s young dream into a nightmare. This has a palpable effect on the couple, and their relation to each other has changed from affectionate intimacy to cold formality.

Princess Hélène is continually being urged by her Lady-in-Waiting, Frederika, to show more restraint in her attitude to her husband, since he is only the Prince Consort. Niki’s only solace is his friend Lieutenant Montschi, whom he has been allowed to retain as his personal Aide-de-Camp. He confides to Montschi his realization that he in only a pawn in a political game, otherwise of no importance. He confronts is father-in-law and ask him why he was allowed to marry the Princess, and the answer was to have children! Niki is unhappy with that answer and decides to leave the castle on his wedding night to have fun in the public gardens. He finds out that in the public gardens a Viennese all-girl band is playing. A longing comes over the two young men to hear Viennese music and dream themselves back in Vienna. Montschi feel himself in duty bound to remind Niki that it is his wedding nigh, but Niki is in a devil-may-care mood and quite oblivious of other considerations. Their departure, however, has not gone entirely unnoticed, and is watched by Lothar.

ACT II – In the public gardens near the castle the all-ladies Viennese band is just finishing their set, and their conductor, Franzi sends the girls on their break. She mentioned to one of the players that she is meeting a handsome Lieutenant for dinner, and also had a meeting with someone else after that. Niki and Montschi arrive in the gardens and meets Franzi, who is greatly attracted to the handsome young Viennese officer, without suspecting for a moment that he is the Prince Consort. Count Lothar and Prince Joachim show up looking for Niki, and they are hopeful of catching Niki with one of the Viennese girls and thus accomplishing his downfall and possible banishment. The trouble is that both Lothar and Joachim fall victim to members of the ladies’ band. Prince Joachim is enjoying the company of the big drum player, Fifi, while Count Lothar falls for Franzi, the same conductor, who has the eye of Niki. Franzi refuses to take him seriously and makes fun of Lothar.

Princess Hélène and Frederika arrive in the garden, also in search of the fugitive Niki. She happens to ask Franzi if she has seen a friend of theirs who comes from Vienna – a Lieutenant. Franzi realizes that they are talking about Niki, and tell them that she has been having dinner with him that evening, and right now his is walking through the garden.

ACT III - The courtiers are discussing the scandal caused by the Prince Consort’s disgraceful desertion of Princess Hélène on their wedding night. The Princess, however, is determined to win back her husband’s love, and to this end she enters into a conspiracy with Franzi. She has Franzi come to the castle daily to teach her to be more outgoing, and the way of life between a man and a woman. She also explains to Princess Hélène that Nikki truly is in love with her. After Franzi leaves, a bored Niki appears; he is confined to the palace and forced to appear as a loving husband, but he has nothing to do, and Hélène is becoming more and more attentive. When he tells his wife they can't go on like this, she replies she has been trying to become a real Viennese bride and to give him freedom. When Niki realizes she means she'll let him go, he suddenly becomes more attracted to her. Saying they will remain good friends, he starts to go, turns and kisses her, and then quickly leaves. The Prince tells his friend that Hélène has given him his freedom, but now he is confused. His wife has become a perfect Viennese woman and he is torn between Franzi and Hélène. Maybe he is falling in love with his wife, and Franzi was just a Viennese dream, a waltz dream.