Heinrich Berté facts for kids
Heinrich Berté (born Heinrich Bettelheim) was an important composer from Austria-Hungary. He lived from 1858 to 1924. He is best known for writing operas and operettas, which are like light, fun operas with speaking parts and songs.
A Composer's Journey
Heinrich Berté was born in a town called Galgócz in Hungary. Today, this town is known as Hlohovec in Slovakia. He came from a Jewish family.
When he first started his career, Heinrich Berté wasn't very successful. He wrote ballets and one opera, but they didn't become famous.
A Big Idea
In 1911, a writer named Alfred Maria Willner offered Berté a story idea. It was for an opera about the famous composer Franz Schubert. The story was based on a novel called Schwammerl.
However, Berté was told to do something different. Instead of writing new music, he was asked to use Schubert's own music. He would arrange it into a new operetta. This style, where you use existing music in a new way, is sometimes called a pastiche.
Worldwide Success
On January 15, 1916, Berté's most famous work opened in Vienna. It was an operetta called Das Dreimäderlhaus. This show used music by Franz Schubert. During its performances, a talented singer named Gretl Schörg became well-known.
Das Dreimäderlhaus was a huge hit! It was translated into 22 different languages. In 1921, it opened in New York City as Blossom Time. The next year, in 1922, it was performed in London as Lilac Time. The operetta was performed in over 60 countries around the world. It was a truly global success.
The story of Das Dreimäderlhaus was even made into movies several times.
Later Life
Even though Das Dreimäderlhaus was a massive success, Berté couldn't repeat that level of fame. He wrote another operetta using Schubert's music, but it wasn't as popular. Heinrich Berté passed away in Perchtoldsdorf, Austria, when he was 66 years old.
His Music
Heinrich Berté wrote several musical works during his career.
Operas
- Schneeflocke (Snowflake) – This opera was first performed in Vienna in 1896.
Operettas
- Das Dreimäderlhaus (The House of Three Girls) – This was his most famous work, performed in Vienna in 1916. It used music by Franz Schubert.
- Lenz und Liebe (Spring and Love) – This operetta was performed in Budapest in 1917 and also featured music by Franz Schubert.
- Bureau Malicone (Vienna, 1891)
- Der neue Bürgermeister (The New Mayor) (Vienna, 1904)
- Die Millionenbraut (The Millionaire Bride) (Munich, 1904)
- Der Stadtregent (The City Regent) (Munich, 1905)
- Der kleine Chevalier (The Little Knight) (Dresden, 1907)
- Der schöne Gardist (The Handsome Guardsman) (Breslau, 1907)
- Der Glücksnarr (The Fool of Fortune) (Vienna, 1908)
- Kreolenblut (Creole Blood) (Hamburg, 1911)
- Der Märchenprinz (The Fairy Tale Prince) (Hannover, 1914)
- Die drei Kavaliere (The Three Cavaliers) (Vienna, 1919)
- Coulissengeheimnisse (Backstage Secrets) (Hamburg, 1920)
