Operetta and Composer Charts
London Charts
English Adaptations of Operettas from the German Stage: London 1907–38
(Ranked in order of the highest number of performances of the first production.)
- Lehár, The Merry Widow (Daly’s Theatre, 1907) 778
- Cuvillier, The Lilac Domino (Empire Theatre, 1918) 747
- Benatzky, White Horse Inn (London Coliseum, 1931) 651
- Berté/Schubert/Clutsam, Lilac Time (Lyric Theatre, 1922) 628
- Strauss Sr & Jr, Waltzes from Vienna (Alhambra Theatre, 1931) 607
- Gilbert, The Lady of the Rose, Daly’s Theatre, 1922) 515
- Gilbert, Katja, the Dancer (Gaiety, then Daly’s, 1925) 514
- Straus, The Chocolate Soldier (Lyric Theatre, 1910) 500
- Fall, Madame Pompadour (Daly’s Theatre, 1923) 461
- Benatzky and Strauss, Casanova (London Coliseum, 1932) 429
- Fall, The Dollar Princess (Daly’s Theatre, 1909) 428
- Mackeben and Millöcker, The Dubarry (His Majesty’s, 1932) 398
- Gilbert, The Girl in the Taxi (Lyric, 1912) 384
- Kálmán, Soldier Boy (Apollo, 1918) 374
- Fall, The Girl in the Train (Vaudeville Theatre, 1910) 339
- Lehár, The Count of Luxembourg (Daly’s Theatre, 1911) 339
- Lehár, Gipsy Love (Daly’s Theatre, 1912) 299
- Stolz, Wild Violets (Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, 1932) 290
- Straus, The Last Waltz (Gaiety Theatre, 1922) 283
- Gilbert, Yvonne (Daly’s, 1926) 281
- Fall, Princess Caprice (Shaftesbury Theatre, 1912) 265
- Straus, My Son John Shaftesbury Theatre, 1926) 255
- Hirsch, Toni (Shaftesbury Theatre, 1924) 248
- Stolz, Whirled into Happiness (Lyric Theatre, 1922) 245
- Kollo, The Girl on the Film (Gaiety, 1913) 232
- Kálmán, A Little Dutch Girl (Lyric Theatre, 1920) 215
- Kálmán, The Gipsy Princess (Prince of Wales’s Theatre, 1921) 212
- Straus, Mother of Pearl (Gaiety Theatre, 1933) 181
- Benatzky, The Apache (Palladium, 1927) 166
- Künneke, The Song of the Sea (His Majesty’s, 1928) 155
- Straus, A Waltz Dream (Hick’s Theatre, 1908) 146
- Abraham, Ball at the Savoy (Drury Lane, 1933) 146
- Lehár, The Blue Mazurka (Daly’s, 1927) 138
- Strauss, Nightbirds (Lyric, 1911) 133
- Stolz, The Blue Train (Prince of Wales’s, 1927) 126
- Lehár, The Three Graces (Empire, 1924) 121
- Straus, Cleopatra (Daly’s, 1925) 111
- Lehár, Frederica (Palace Theatre, 1930) 110
- Gilbert, The Cinema Star (Shaftesbury, 1914) 108
- Gilbert, Mam’selle Tra-La-La (Lyric, 1914) 107
- Künneke, The Cousin from Nowhere (Prince’s Theatre, 1923) 106
- Gilbert, The Joy-Ride Lady (New Theatre, 1914) 105
- Abraham, Viktoria and Her Hussar (Palace Theatre, 1931) 100
- Lehár, Clo-Clo (Shaftesbury, 1925) 95
- Kálmán, A Kiss in Spring (Alhambra, 1932) 83
- Eysler, The Laughing Husband (New Theatre, 1913) 78*
- Kálmán, Autumn Manoeuvres (Royal Adelphi Theatre, 1912) 74
- Benatzky, The Flying Trapeze (Alhambra Theatre, 1935) 73
- Lehár, The Land of Smiles (Drury Lane, 1931) 72
- Fall, The Merry Peasant (Strand Theatre, 1909) 69
- Eysler, The Girl Who Didn’t (Lyric, 1913) 68
- Kálmán, Maritza (Palace Theatre, 1938) 68
- Lincke, Castles in the Air (Scala Theatre, 1911) 65
- Straus, Love and Laughter (New Theatre, 1913) 65
- Reinhardt, The Spring Maid (Whitney Theatre, 1911) 63
- Lehár, Paganini (Lyceum, 1937) 59
- Lehár, Mitislaw (London Hippodrome, 1909) 56
- Straus, The Dancing Viennese (London Coliseum, 1912) 48**
- Granichstaedten, Hearts and Diamonds (Strand, 1926) 43
- Künneke, Love’s Awakening (Empire Theatre, 1922) 37
- Weill, A Kingdom for a Cow (Savoy Theatre, 1935) 18
- Benatzky, My Sister and I (Shaftesbury, 1931) 8
- Gilbert, Lovely Lady (Phoenix, 1932) 4
* Revised version produced at the Lyric in Dec. 1913 as The Girl Who Didn’t.
** Preceded by 48 performances in German.
40 have 100 performances or more.
5 new German operetta adaptations produced in the West End in 1912, 3 in 1913, 3 in 1914. In 1912, Fall’s Darby and Joan (Brüderlein fein) produced at Coliseum, and Lincke’s The H’arum Lily at the London Pavilion) both one-act operettas. In 1914, Reinhardt’s The Daring of Diane (one act) was produced at the Pavilion.
5 new productions in 1922, 3 in 1925, 5 in 1931, 5 in 1932. No productions of new operetta from the German stage after Maritza (1938) until Three Waltzes (Oscar Straus) in 1945.
Operettas to English texts (1906–36) by composers for the German stage:
- Felix, The Merveilleuses (Daly’s, 1906) 197
- Fall (L.), The Eternal Waltz (London Hippodrome, 1911) 100
- Fall (R.), Arms and the Girl (London Hippodrome, 1912) 95
- Straus, Love and Laughter (Lyric Theatre, 1913) 67
- Kálmán, The Blue House (London Hippodrome, 1912) 64
- Stolz, Rise and Shine (Drury Lane, 1936) 44
- Gilbert, The Girl from Cook’s (Gaiety, 1927) 30
- Künneke, Riki-Tiki (Gaiety Theatre, 1926) 18
- Künneke, Lover’s Lane (1923) ?
Operetta to French text by composer for German stage:
Straus, Mariette (His Majesty’s Theatre, 1929) 21
Operettas adapted directly from the Hungarian stage:
- Jacobi, The Marriage Market (Daly’s, 1913) 423
- Jacobi, Sybil (Daly’s, 1921) 374
Top Composers:
- Lehár 10
- Gilbert 9
- Straus 9
- Kálmán 7
- Fall 6
- Benatzky 5
The Top Twenty adaptations of silver-age operettas ranked in order of the highest number of West End performances, 1907–38. Date of first London performance given.
- Lehár, The Merry Widow (1907) 1317
- Berté/Schubert/Clutsam, Lilac Time (1922) 1092*
- Cuvillier, The Lilac Domino (1918) 747
- Benatzky, White Horse Inn (1931) 651
- Strauss Sr & Jr, Waltzes from Vienna (1931) 607
- Straus, The Chocolate Soldier (1910) 599
- Gilbert, The Girl in the Taxi (1912) 597
- Gilbert, The Lady of the Rose (1922) 543
- Gilbert, Katja, the Dancer (1925) 514
- Fall, The Dollar Princess (1909) 497
- Fall, Madame Pompadour (1923) 461
- Benatzky and Strauss, Casanova (1932) 429
- Jacobi, The Marriage Market (Daly’s, 1913) 423
- Mackeben and Millöcker, The Dubarry (1932) 398
- Jacobi, Sybil (Daly’s, 1921) 374
- Fall, The Girl in the Train (1910) 339
- Lehár, The Count of Luxembourg (1911) 339
- Lehár, Gipsy Love (1912) 299
- Stolz, Wild Violets (1932) 290
- Straus, The Last Waltz (1922) 283
In top twenty are 3 by Gilbert, 3 by Lehár, 3 by Fall, and 2 by Jacobi, and 2 by Straus.
* 35 performances were given in German at the Aldwych (1933).
London Charts (MS Word document)
New York Charts
English Adaptations of Operettas from the German Stage: New York 1907–38
(Ranked in order of the highest number of performances of the first production.)
- Berté/Schubert/Romberg, Blossom Time (Ambassador, 1921) 516
- Romberg (orig. Kollo), Maytime (Shubert Theatre, 1917) 492
- Lehár, The Merry Widow (New Amsterdam Theatre, 1907) 416
- Eysler, The Blue Paradise (Casino Theatre, 1915) 356
- Kálmán, Countess Maritza (Shubert Theatre, 1926) 321
- Strauss Jr. & Sr., arr. Korngold & Bittner, The Great Waltz (Center Theatre, 1934)
- Straus, The Chocolate Soldier (Lyric Theatre, 1909) 296
- Fall, The Dollar Princess (Knickerbocker Theatre, 1909) 288
- Gilbert, The Lady in Ermine, (Ambassador Theatre, 1922) 238
- Benatzky, White Horse Inn (Center Theatre, 1936) 233
- Kálmán, Miss Springtime (New Amsterdam Theatre, 1916) 224
- Stolz, Sky High (Shubert Theatre, 1925) 217
- Reinhardt, The Spring Maid (Liberty Theatre, 1910) 208
- Kálmán, Her Soldier Boy (Astor Theatre, 1916) 198
- Kálmán, The Circus Princess (Winter Garden Theatre, 1927) 192
- Straus, The Last Waltz (Century Theatre, 1921) 185
- Berény, Little Boy Blue (Lyric Theatre, 1911) 184
- Granichstaedten, The Rose Maid (Globe Theatre, 1912) 181
- Lehár, Alone at Last (Shubert Theatre, 1915) 180
- Gilbert, The Red Robe (Shubert Theatre, 1928) 167
- Benatzky, Meet My Sister (Shubert Theatre, 1930) 167
- Künneke + Offenbach, The Love Song (Century Theatre, 1925) 157
- Kálmán, Sari (Liberty Theatre, 1914) 151
- Künneke, Caroline (Ambassador Theatre, 1923) 151
- Fall, The Siren (Knickerbocker Theatre, 1911) 136
- Reinhardt, The Purple Road (Liberty Theatre, 1913) 136
- Straus (+Strauss Sr & Jr) Three Waltzes (Majestic Theatre, 1937) 122
- Lehár, The Count of Luxembourg (New Amsterdam Theatre, 1912) 120
- Eysler, Vera Violetta (Winter Garden Theatre, 1911) 112
- Cuvillier, Flora Bella (Casino Theatre, 1916) 112
- Gilbert, Katja (44th Street Theatre, 1925) 112
- Straus, A Waltz Dream (Broadway Theatre, 1908) 111
- Nedbal, The Peasant Girl (44th Street Theatre, 1915) 111
- Fall, The Rose of Stamboul (Century Theatre, 1922) 111
- Cuvillier, The Lilac Domino (44th Street Theatre, 1914) 109
- Kollo, Three Little Girls (Shubert Theatre, 1930) 104
- Gilbert, The Queen of the Movies (Globe Theatre, 1914) 104
- Ziehrer, Mlle. Mischief (Lyric Theatre, 1908) 96
- Lehár, Frederika (Imperial Theatre, 1937) 95
- Ziehrer, The Kiss Waltz (Casino Theatre, 1911) 88
- Fall, The Doll Girl (Globe Theatre, 1913) 88
- Burgess, et al. (orig. Straus), Naughty Riquette (Cosmopolitan,’26) 88
- Mackeben + Millöcker, The Du Barry (Cohen Theatre, 1932) 87
- Fall, Madame Pompadour (Martin Beck Theatre, 1924) 80
- Kálmán, The Yankee Princess (Knickerbocker Theatre, 1922) 80
- Eysler, The Love Cure (New Amsterdam Theatre, 1910) 78
- Romberg (orig. Ascher), Follow Me (Casino Theatre, 1916) 78
- Kálmán, The Riviera Girl (New Amsterdam Theatre, 1917) 78
- Berény, The Girl from Montmartre (Criterion Theatre, 1912) 72
- Kollo, Springtime of Youth (Broadhurst Theatre, 1922) 68
- Jarno, The Girl and the Kaiser (Herald Square Theatre, 1910) 64
- Kollo, The Girl on the Film (44th Street Theatre, 1913) 64
- Winterberg, The Girl from Brazil (44th Street Theatre, 1916) 61
- Gilbert, A Modern Eve (Casino Theatre, 1915) 56
- Lehár, The Man with Three Wives (Weber and Fields’ Music Hall, 1913)
- Eysler, The Laughing Husband (Knickerbocker Theatre, 1914) 48
- Winterberg, The Lady in Red (Lyric Theatre, 1919) 48
- Kálmán, The Gay Hussars (Knickerbocker Theatre, 1909) 44
- Fall, The Girl in the Train (Globe Theatre, 1910) 40
- Fall, Lieber Augustin (Casino Theatre, 1913) 37
- Heuberger, The Opera Ball (Liberty Theatre, 1912) 32
- Kálmán, The Woman Haters (Astor Theatre, 1912) 32
- Lehár, Gypsy Love (Globe Theatre, 1911) 31
- Gilbert, Modest Suzanne (Liberty Theatre, 1912) 24
- Berté, The Rose of Panama (Daly’s Theatre, 1912) 24
- Lehár, Eva (New Amsterdam Theatre, 1912) 24
- Straus, My Little Friend (New Amsterdam Theatre, 1913) 24
- Lehár, Maids of Athens (New Amsterdam Theatre, 1914) 22
- Straus, My Lady’s Glove (Lyric Theatre, 1917) 16
- Kollo, Phoebe of Quality Street (Shubert Theatre, 1921) 16
- Fall, The Eternal Waltz (Palace Theatre, 1913) 12
- Gilbert, Marching By (Chanin’s 46th Street Theatre, 1932) 12
- Weill, The Threepenny Opera (Empire Theatre, 1933) 12
- Lehár, The Star Gazer (Plymouth Theatre, 1917) 8
- Lehár, Where the Lark Sings (Manhattan Opera House, 1920) 5
36 have runs of over 100.
Last operetta here is Three Waltzes, which closed on 9 Apr. 1938. Last to be performed was Blossom Time on 26 Dec. 1938, closing after 19 perfs in Jan. 1939. Then nothing till 15 Jul. 1942, Merry Widow revival at Carnegie Hall (39 perfs). No Broadway production of a new operetta from the German stage until the belated New York premiere of Lehár’s Das Land des Lächelns in 1946, which then ran for just 36 performances under the title Yours Is My Heart. Kálmán’s Marinka (1945) was composed to an English text, and did well (165 perfs). Sky High was the title given to Stolz’s operetta Der Tanz ins Glück (1920), produced in London as Whirled into Happiness (Lyric Theatre, 1922).
Operettas to English texts (1908–1938) by composers for the German stage:
- Goetzl, The Royal Vagabond (Cohan and Harris, 1919) 348
- Jacobi & Kreisler, Apple Blossoms (Globe, 1919) 256
- Kálmán, Golden Dawn (Hammerstein’s, 1927) 184
- Weill, Knickerbocker Holiday (Ethel Barrymore, 1938) 168Felix, Lassie (Nora Bayes, 1920) 159
- Künneke, The Love Song (Century, 1925) 157
- Weill, The Eternal Road (Manhattan Opera House, 1937) 153
- Felix, Pom-pom (Cohan, 1916) 128
- Jacobi, Rambler Rose (Empire, 1917) 72
- Weill, Johnny Johnson (44th Street, 1936) 68
- Sirmay, Ripples (New Amsterdam, 1930) 55
- acobi, The Half Moon (Liberty, 1920) 48
- Felix, Peg-o’-My-Dreams (Jolson, 1924) 32
- Felix, Tantalizing Tommy (Criterion, 1912) 31
- Jacobi, The Love Letter (Globe, 1921) 31
- Holländer, The Charity Girl (Globe, 1912) 21
- Fall, The Eternal Waltz (Palace, 1913) 12
Operettas adapted directly from the Hungarian stage:
- Jacobi, Sybil (Liberty, 1916) 168
- Jacobi, The Marriage Market (Knickerbocker, 1913) 88
Top Composers:
- Lehár 10
- Kálmán 9
- Fall 8
- Gilbert 7
- Straus 6
- Eysler 4
- Kollo 4
The Top Twenty adaptations of silver-age operettas ranked in order of the highest number of Broadway performances, 1907–38. Date of first New York performance given.
- Berté/Schubert/Romberg, Blossom Time (1921) 651
- Lehár, The Merry Widow (1907) 520
- Straus, The Chocolate Soldier (1909) 441
- Eysler, The Blue Paradise (1915) 356
- Strauss Jr. & Sr., arr. Korngold & Bittner, The Great Waltz (Center Theatre, 1934) 347
- Kálmán, Countess Maritza (1926) 337
- Fall, The Dollar Princess (1909) 288
- Gilbert, The Lady in Ermine, (1922) 238
- Benatzky, White Horse Inn (1936) 233
- Kálmán, Miss Springtime (1916) 224
- Stolz, Sky High (1925) 217
- Reinhardt, The Spring Maid (1910) 208
- Kálmán, Her Soldier Boy (1916) 198
- Kálmán, The Circus Princess (1927) 192
- Straus, The Last Waltz (1921) 185
- Berény, Little Boy Blue (1911) 184
- Lehár, Alone at Last (1915) 180
- Granichstaedten, The Rose Maid (1912) 176
- Jacobi, Sybil (Liberty, 1916) 168
- Gilbert, The Red Robe (1928) 167
- Benatzky, Meet My Sister (1930) 167
In the top twenty are 4 by Kálmán, 2 by Benatzky, 2 by Gilbert, 2 by Lehár, and 2 by Straus.