View source for Der Zigeunerprimas

{{For|the 1929 film adaptation|The Gypsy Chief}}
{{italic title}}[[File:Kálmán_Imre_cropped_(Willinger_Vilmos,_1924).jpg|thumb|[[Emmerich Kálmán]]]]'''''Der Zigeunerprimas''''' ('''''The Gypsy Band Leader''''', known as '''''Sari''''' and '''''The Gypsy Virtuoso''''' in English speaking countries) is a three-act [[operetta]], which was composed by [[Emmerich Kálmán]]. The [[libretto]] was written by {{Interlanguage link|Julius Wilhelm|de|3=Julius Wilhelm (Librettist)|lt=Julius Wilhelm}} and [[Fritz Grünbaum]]. It premiered at the {{ill|Johann Strauß Theatre|de|Johann Strauß-Theater}} in Vienna on 11 October 1912.

In 1929 it was adapted into a German silent film ''[[The Gypsy Chief]]'' directed by [[Carl Wilhelm]].

==Roles==
[[File:Sari-Poster-1914.jpg|thumb|Poster for ''Sari'', the 1914 [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] adaptation of ''Der Zigeunerprimas'', presented by [[Henry Wilson Savage|Henry W. Savage]]]]
{| class="wikitable"
|+{{sronly|Roles, voice types, premiere cast}}
!Role
![[Voice type]]
!Premiere cast, 11 October 1912<ref>{{Almanacco|dmy=11 October 1912|match=Der Zigeunerprimas}}</ref>
|-
|Pali Rácz, ''a Gypsy violinist and orchestra leader''
|[[tenor]]
|[[Alexander Girardi]]
|-
|Laczi, ''Pali's son''
|tenor
|Willy Strehl
|-
|Sári, ''Pali's daughter''
|[[soprano]]
|Grete Holm
|-
|Juliska Racz, ''Pali's niece''
|soprano
|
|-
|Gaston, Count Irini
|[[baritone]]
|Max Brod
|-
|King Heribert VII, ''disguised as Count Estragon''
|baritone
|Josef Victora
|-
|}

==Synopsis==
Pali Rácz, a thrice-widowed [[gypsy]] violinist, is adored by women and hailed widely as a virtuoso. His daughter Sari cares for their large family. His young son Laczi is also a violinist, but has chosen to forsake his father's playing style and study classical violin at the Academy of Music. Pali wants to marry his niece, Juliska, as a companion in his old age, but she prefers his son, Laczi, and Laczi, in turn, loves her. Pali criticizes Laczi's musical talent so much, and Laczi yearns so for Juliska, that he leaves home. Reunited in [[Paris]], father and son reconcile after Countess Irini, an old admirer, convinces Pali not to interfere with the course of Laczi and Juliska's relationship. Irini's grandson marries Sari.

== Recordings ==
* [[Josef Metternich]], Julius Katona, [[Annemarie Jürgens]], {{ill|Liselotte Losch|de}}, Daue, {{ill|Willy Hofmann (tenor)|de|Willy Hofmann|lt=Willy Hofmann}} &ndash; [[Westdeutscher Rundfunk]] &ndash; [[Franz Marszalek]] &ndash; 1949
* Thompson, Meacham, Lengfelder &ndash; [[Ohio Light Opera]] &ndash; McMahon &ndash; 2001 (0098).
* [[Gabriele Rossmanith]], Edith Lienbacher, [[Roberto Saccà]], {{ill|Wolfgang Bankl|de}}; [[Claus Peter Flor]] – [[Classic Produktion Osnabrück]] 058-2-2003

==Radio adaptation==
''Sari'' was presented on ''[[The Railroad Hour]]'' on 17 March 1952. Baritone [[Gordon MacRae]] and soprano [[Margaret Truman]] starred in the episode, which also featured [[Carmen Dragon]]'s orchestra and [[Norman Luboff]]'s chorus.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Kirby|first1=Walter|title=Better Radio Programs for the Week|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2470060/the_decatur_daily_review/|newspaper=[[Decatur Daily Review]]|date=March 16, 1952|page=44|via = [[Newspapers.com]]|access-date = May 23, 2015}} {{Open access}}</ref>

==Notes and references==
{{Reflist}}

==Sources==
*Myers, Eric (2002). [https://web.archive.org/web/20121105192227/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-202303311.html "Kalman: ''Der Zigeunerprimas'']. ''[[Opera News]]'', October 2002 {{subscription required}}

==External links==
*[http://www.musicaltheatreguide.com/composers/kalman/zigeunerprimas.html Detailed synopsis and list of musical numbers for ''Der Zigeunerprimas''] at musicaltheatreguide.com
* {{IBDB title|id=7028|title=Sari}}

{{Emmerich Kálmán}}
{{authority control}}
{{portal bar|Opera}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Zigeunerprimas, Der}}
[[Category:Operas by Emmerich Kálmán]]
[[Category:German-language operettas]]
[[Category:Operas]]
[[Category:1912 operas]]
[[Category:Operas set in Hungary]]
[[Category:Fictional representations of Romani people]]
[[Category:Operas adapted into films]]