Richard Genée facts for kids

Richard Genée

Franz Friedrich Richard Genée (born February 7, 1823 – died June 15, 1895) was a talented writer and composer from Prussia who later lived in Austria. He was known for writing the stories for operas (called librettos), plays, and also for composing music.

Who Was Richard Genée?

Richard Genée was born in a city called Danzig. He later passed away in Baden bei Wien, Austria. He became famous for his work in the world of operettas, which are like light, fun operas with spoken parts and singing.

What Did Richard Genée Create?

Genée is most famous for writing the story (libretto) for Die Fledermaus (meaning The Bat), which is one of the most well-known operettas by Johann Strauss II. He worked on this libretto without ever meeting the other writer, Karl Haffner. Genée wrote the actual words for the songs and spoken parts.

He also co-wrote the libretto for another popular operetta, Der Bettelstudent (meaning The Beggar Student), with Friedrich Zell. Besides writing, Genée was also a conductor. In 1857, he led the Philharmonic Orchestra Mainz.

Famous Operettas and Plays

Richard Genée wrote many stories for operettas and plays. Here are some of his most famous works:

• Der Karneval in Rom (1873) – Music by Johann Strauss II
• Die Fledermaus (1874) – Music by Johann Strauss II
• Cagliostro in Wien (1875) – Music by Johann Strauss II
• Fatinitza (1876) – Music by Franz von Suppé
• Boccaccio (1879) – Music by Franz von Suppé
• Die Dubarry (1879) – Music by Carl Millöcker
• Das Spitzentuch der Königin (1880) – Music by Johann Strauss II
• Donna Juanita (1880) – Music by Franz von Suppé
• Der lustige Krieg (1881) – Music by Johann Strauss II
• Der Bettelstudent (1882) – Music by Carl Millöcker
• Eine Nacht in Venedig (1883) – Music by Johann Strauss II
• Gasparone (1884) – Music by Carl Millöcker

Music Compositions

Genée didn't just write stories; he also composed music!

• In 1876, he composed the operetta The Naval Cadet [de]. This operetta included a game of chess in its second act. A special chess move, known as the Seekadettenmatt (Naval Cadet mate) or Légal Trap in English, was named after this operetta.
• He also composed Nanon, die Wirtin Zum Goldenen Lamm (1877) and a short operetta called Der Musikfeind [de] (1862).
• One of his unique musical pieces is Italian Salad / Insalata Italiana, Op. 68. In this piece, the singers use Italian musical terms as the words, and they sing them in a way that matches the meaning of the musical terms.

Films Inspired by His Works

Many of Richard Genée's operettas have been turned into films over the years. This shows how popular and lasting his stories are!

• Das fidele Gefängnis [de] (1917), based on Die Fledermaus
• Die Fledermaus (1923)
• Nanon (1924)
• The Beggar Student (1927)
• The Beggar Student (1931)
• Die Fledermaus (1931)
• Waltz Time (1933)
• The Loves of Madame Dubarry (1935), based on Die Dubarry
• The Beggar Student (1936)
• Die Fledermaus [it] (1937)
• Gasparone (1937)
• Nanon (1938)
• Boccaccio (1940)
• Die Fledermaus (1944–46)
• A Night in Venice (1953)
• Oh... Rosalinda!! (1955), based on Die Fledermaus
• Swelling Melodies (1955), based on Die Fledermaus
• Gasparone (1956)
• The Beggar Student (1956)
• Mazurka der Liebe (1957), based on Der Bettelstudent
• Die Fledermaus (1962)
• Flagermusen (1966), based on Die Fledermaus
• Die Fledermaus (1979)