All Colonel Ollendorf, Saxon governor of occupied Cracow, did was to kiss Laura, daughter of the impoverished Polish Countess Nowalska, on the shoulder.
Yet the kiss turns out to have far-reaching personal and political ramifications when the colonel is publicly rebuked by Laura for his impudence. No Saxon officer can let a rebuff like that go unchecked. This calls for revenge!
Thus, without further ado, Ollendorf palms off the penniless beggar student Symon as alleged Prince Wybicki on the lookout for a bride. Both daughter and mother Nowalska are delighted at the prospect, since marrying Laura to the wealthy prince would rescue the familys ailing finances.
Not until the wedding bells toll does Ollendorf reveal Symons true identity. Laura is disgraced before Polands nobility and the Saxon governors revenge seems a smashing success. Yet something happens which the governor hadnt reckoned with: Laura has fallen in love with Symon. When Symon helps drive the Saxon occupiers out of Cracow by means of an uprising, she forgives him for having played a part in Ollendorfs scheming. So theres nothing more to stand in the way of their marriage.
Carl Millcker, alongside Johann Strauss and Franz von Supp, was one of the greatest composers of the era of Viennese operetta. His Beggar Student is to this day one of the most frequently staged works of the genre. Arias such as Ich hab sie ja nur auf die Schulter geksst, (Oh, I only kissed her on the shoulder), Ich hab kein Geld, bin vogelfrei (I have no money, Im free as a bird) and Ich knpfte manche zarte Bande (I have tied many fragile bonds) are among the best-loved operetta melodies of all time.
Performance Times
30th Aug 08 @ 19:00
31st Aug 08 @ 15:00
4th Oct 08 @ 19:00
5th Oct 08 @ 15:00
9th Dec 08 @ 19:30
9th Jan 09 @ 19:30
19th Mar 09 @ 19:30
The Dresden State Operetta is one of the few light musical theatres in Europe.
The theatre is unique for cultivating the legacy of Johann Strauss.
The State Operettas varied programme of operettas, light operas and musicals focuses on classics such as The Beggar Student, The Csrds Princess and The Land of Smiles, but also The Magic Flute, the swing musical Anything Goes and the rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar.
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