# Alfred Maria Willner > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Alfred_Maria_Willner > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Alfred_Maria_Willner.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_Maria_Willner > Source revision: 1349596296 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Austrian writer, philosopher, musicologist, composer and librettist}} [[File:Feuerhalle Simmering - Urnenhain - Alfred Willner.jpg|thumb|[Feuerhalle Simmering](/source/Feuerhalle_Simmering), grave of Alfred Willner]] '''Alfred Maria Willner''' (11 July 1859 – 27 October 1929) was an Austrian writer, philosopher, [musicologist](/source/musicologist), [composer](/source/composer) and [librettist](/source/librettist). ==Biography== Alfred Maria Willner was born and died in [Vienna](/source/Vienna). He began composing mostly music for the piano and eventually made a career writing librettos for [ballet](/source/ballet)s, [opera](/source/opera)s and [operetta](/source/operetta)s. One of his early operettas was [Johann Strauss II](/source/Johann_Strauss_II)’s ''Die Göttin der Vernunft'', a commission that Strauss regretted. Strauss was forced to complete the commission only by the threat of a lawsuit and declined to attend a performance. Later the libretto and score were legally separated, and Willner revised the libretto for [Franz Lehár](/source/Franz_Leh%C3%A1r) as ''[Der Graf von Luxemburg](/source/Der_Graf_von_Luxemburg)''. Willner's first big success was his libretto for [Leo Fall](/source/Leo_Fall)’s ''[Die Dollarprinzessin](/source/Die_Dollarprinzessin)'', after which he became a much sought-after operetta librettist. He wrote several successful librettos for Lehár operettas, particularly in collaboration with {{Interlanguage link multi|Heinz Reichert|de}}. The two also collaborated on highly successful adaptations of music by [Schubert](/source/Franz_Schubert) (such as ''[Das Dreimäderlhaus](/source/Das_Dreim%C3%A4derlhaus)'') and by [Johann Strauss father](/source/Johann_Strauss_I) and son (such as ''Walzer aus Wien''). In addition, Willner and Reichert were the contracted librettists for [Puccini](/source/Giacomo_Puccini)'s opera ''[La rondine](/source/La_rondine)'' which was later adapted by [Giuseppe Adami](/source/Giuseppe_Adami). Willner and composer [Sigmund Romberg](/source/Sigmund_Romberg) were the producers for the 1921 Broadway production of ''[Love Birds](/source/Love_Birds_(Romberg_and_MacDonald))''.{{cite book|first1=Dan|last1=Dietz|title=The Complete Book of 1920s Broadway Musicals|publisher=[Rowman & Littlefield Publishers](/source/Rowman_%26_Littlefield_Publishers)|year=2019|isbn=9781442245280|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LRmGDwAAQBAJ|page=53-54|chapter=Love Birds}} Alfred Maria Willner was cremated at [Feuerhalle Simmering](/source/Feuerhalle_Simmering) in Vienna, where also his ashes are buried. ==Librettos== *''Das Heimchen am Herd'' ([opera](/source/opera)), music by [Karl Goldmark](/source/Karl_Goldmark), 1896 *''Die Schneeflocke'' (opera), music by [Heinrich Berté](/source/Heinrich_Bert%C3%A9), 1896 *''Der Schmetterling'' ([operetta](/source/operetta), with [Bernhard Buchbinder](/source/Bernhard_Buchbinder)), music by {{Interlanguage link multi|Charles Weinberger|de}}, 1896 *''Die Göttin der Vernunft'' (operetta, with Buchbinder), music by [Johann Strauss II](/source/Johann_Strauss_II), 1897 *''Fräulein Hexe'' (operetta, with Buchbinder), music by [Josef Bayer](/source/Josef_Bayer), 1898 *''Die Debutantin'' (operetta, with Heinrich von Waldberg), music by [Alfred Zamara](/source/Alfred_Zamara), 1901 *''Das Baby'' (operetta, with Waldberg), music by [Richard Heuberger](/source/Richard_Heuberger), 1902 *''Die Millionenbraut'' (operetta, with E. Limé), music by Berté, 1904 *''Der schöne Gardist'' (operetta, with A. Landesberg), music by Berté, 1907 *''Der kleine Chevalier'', (operetta), music by Berté, 1907 *''[Die Dollarprinzessin](/source/Die_Dollarprinzessin)'' (operetta, with [Fritz Grünbaum](/source/Fritz_Gr%C3%BCnbaum)), music by [Leo Fall](/source/Leo_Fall), 1907 *''Ein Wintermärchen'' (Opera), music by Goldmark, 1908 *''[Baron Trenck](/source/Baron_Trenck)'' (operetta, with [Robert Bodanzky](/source/Robert_Bodanzky)), music by [Felix Albini](/source/Felix_Albini), 1908 *''Ein Mädchen für Alles'' (operetta, with Waldberg), music by [Heinrich Reinhardt](/source/Heinrich_Reinhardt_(composer)), 1908 *''Die Paradiesvögel'' (operetta, with {{Interlanguage link multi|Julius Wilhelm|de|3=Julius Wilhelm (Librettist)|lt=Julius Wilhelm}}), music by Philipp Silber, 1908 *''Die Glücksnarr'' (operetta, with Landesberg), music by Berté, 1908 *''Die Sprudelfee'' (operetta, with Wilhelm), music by Reinhardt, 1909 *''[Der Graf von Luxemburg](/source/Der_Graf_von_Luxemburg)'' (operetta, with Bodanzky), music by [Franz Lehár](/source/Franz_Leh%C3%A1r), 1909 *''Zigeunerliebe'' (operetta, with Bodanzky), music by Lehár, 1910 *''Schneeglöckchen'' (operetta, with Wilhelm), music by G. Kerker, 1910 *''Das Puppenmädel'' (operetta, with [Leo Stein](/source/Leo_Stein_(writer))), music by Leo Fall, 1910 *''Die schöne Risette'' (operetta, with Bodanzky), music by Leo Fall, 1910 *''Die Sirene'' (operetta, with Leo Stein), music by Leo Fall, 1911 *''Der Eisenhammer'' (Opera), music by [Blagoje Bersa](/source/Blagoje_Bersa), 1911 (as ''Oganj'') *''Der flotte Bob'' (operetta, with {{ill|Wilhelm Sterk|de}}), music by K. Stigler, 1911 *''Die kleine Freundin'' (operetta, with Leo Stein), music by [Oscar Straus](/source/Oscar_Straus_(composer)), 1911 *''Eva [Das Fabriksmädel]'' (operetta, with Bodanzky), music by Lehár, 1911 *''Casimirs Himmelfahrt'' (burleske Operette, with Bodanzky), music by [Bruno Granichstaedten](/source/Bruno_Granichstaedten), 1911 *''Prinzess Gretl'' (operetta, with Bodanzky), music by Reinhardt, 1913 *''Endlich allein'' (operetta, with Bodanzky), music by Lehár, 1914 *''Der Schuster von Delft'' (Opera, with Wilhelm), music by Bersa, 1914 (as ''Postolar iz Delfta'') *''Der Märchenprinz'' (operetta, with Sterk), music by Berté, 1914 *''Der Durchgang der Venus'' (operetta, with [Rudolf Österreicher](/source/Rudolf_%C3%96sterreicher)), music by [Edmund Eysler](/source/Edmund_Eysler), 1914 *''Der künstliche Mensch'' (operetta, with Österreicher), music by Leo Fall, 1915 *''Die erste Frau'' (operetta, with Österreicher), music by Reinhardt, 1915 *''Wenn zwei sich lieben'' (operetta, with Bodanzky), music by Eysler, 1915 *''[Das Dreimäderlhaus](/source/Das_Dreim%C3%A4derlhaus)'' (Singspiel, with {{Interlanguage link multi|Heinz Reichert|de}}, after R. H. Bartsch: ''Schwammerl''), music by Berté, 1916 *''Die Faschingsfee'' (operetta, with Österreicher), music by Kálmán, 1917 (based on ''[Zsuzsi kisasszony](/source/Zsuzsi_kisasszony)'') *''Die schöne Saskia'' (operetta, with Reichert), music by [Oskar Nedbal](/source/Oskar_Nedbal), 1917 *''[La rondine](/source/La_rondine)'' (opera), music by [Giacomo Puccini](/source/Giacomo_Puccini), 1917 *''Hannerl'' [''Dreimäderlhaus'', part 2] (Singspiel, with Reichert), music by K. Lafite, 1918 *''[Wo die Lerche singt](/source/Where_the_Lark_Sings_(operetta))'' (operetta, with Reichert), music by Lehár, 1918 *''Johann Nestroy'' (Singspiel, with Österreicher), music by E. Reiterer, 1918 *''Nimm mich mit'' (operetta, with Waldberg), music by H. Dostal, 1919 *''Der heilige Ambrosius'' (comedy, with A. Rebner), music by Leo Fall, 1921 *''Nixchen'' (operetta, with Österreicher), music by Oscar Straus, 1921 *''Das Milliardensouper'' (operetta, with H. Kottow), music by Ernst Steffan, 1921 *''Frasquita'' (operetta, with Reichert), music by Lehár, 1922 *''Libellentanz'' (Revue-Operette), music by Lehár, 1923 *''Agri'' (operetta, with Sterk), music by Ernst Steffan, 1924 *''Ein Ballroman'' [Der Kavalier von zehn bis vier] (operetta, with Österreicher and F. Rotter), music by [Robert Stolz](/source/Robert_Stolz), 1924 *''Der Mitternachtswalzer'' (operetta, with Österreicher), music by Robert Stolz, 1926 *''Ade, du liebes Elternhaus'' [Die Lori] (Singspiel, with Reichert), music by O. Jascha, 1928 *''Rosen aus Florida'' (operetta, with Reichert), music by Korngold, after Leo Fall, 1929 *''[Walzer aus Wien](/source/Walzer_aus_Wien)'' (Singspiel, with Reichert and [Ernst Marischka](/source/Ernst_Marischka)), music by J. Bittner and Korngold, after J. Strauss II and I, 1930 ==Filmography== *''[The House of Three Girls](/source/The_House_of_Three_Girls_(1918_film))'', directed by [Richard Oswald](/source/Richard_Oswald) (Germany, 1918) *''Das Milliardensouper '', directed by [Victor Janson](/source/Victor_Janson) (Germany, 1923) *''[The Count of Luxembourg](/source/The_Count_of_Luxembourg_(1926_film))'', directed by [Arthur Gregor](/source/Arthur_Gregor) (1926) *''Der Mitternachtswalzer'', directed by [Heinz Paul](/source/Heinz_Paul) (Austria, 1929) *''[The Rogue Song](/source/The_Rogue_Song)'', directed by [Lionel Barrymore](/source/Lionel_Barrymore) (1930, based on ''[Gypsy Love](/source/Gipsy_Love_(operetta))'') *''{{Interlanguage link multi|Die Faschingsfee (film)|de|3=Die Faschingsfee (1931)|lt=Die Faschingsfee}}'', directed by [Hans Steinhoff](/source/Hans_Steinhoff) (Germany, 1931) *''[Waltzes from Vienna](/source/Waltzes_from_Vienna)'', directed by [Alfred Hitchcock](/source/Alfred_Hitchcock) (UK, 1934) *''[Blossom Time](/source/Blossom_Time_(1934_film))'', directed by [Paul L. Stein](/source/Paul_L._Stein) (UK, 1934) *''[Frasquita](/source/Frasquita)'', directed by [Karel Lamač](/source/Karel_Lama%C4%8D) (Austria, 1934) *''[Eva](/source/Eva_(1935_film))'', directed by [Johannes Riemann](/source/Johannes_Riemann) (Austria, 1935) *''[Three Girls for Schubert](/source/Three_Girls_for_Schubert)'', directed by [E. W. Emo](/source/E._W._Emo) (Germany, 1936) *''[Where the Lark Sings](/source/Where_the_Lark_Sings_(film))'', directed by [Karel Lamač](/source/Karel_Lama%C4%8D) (Germany, 1936) *''{{Ill|Where the Lark Sings (1956 film)|de|3=Wo die Lerche singt (1956)|lt=Where the Lark Sings}}'', directed by [Hans Wolff](/source/Hans_Wolff_(director)) (Austria, 1956) *''[The Count of Luxembourg](/source/The_Count_of_Luxemburg_(1957_film))'', directed by [Werner Jacobs](/source/Werner_Jacobs) (West Germany, 1957) *''[The House of Three Girls](/source/The_House_of_Three_Girls_(1958_film))'', directed by [Ernst Marischka](/source/Ernst_Marischka) (Austria, 1958) *''[The Count of Luxembourg](/source/The_Count_of_Luxemburg_(1972_film))'', directed by [Wolfgang Glück](/source/Wolfgang_Gl%C3%BCck) (West Germany, 1972) == Sources == {{reflist}} * ''[The New Grove Dictionary of Opera](/source/The_New_Grove_Dictionary_of_Opera)'', edited by [Stanley Sadie](/source/Stanley_Sadie) (1992), {{ISBN|0-333-73432-7}} and {{ISBN|1-56159-228-5}} * ''The Oxford Dictionary of Opera'', by [John Warrack](/source/John_Warrack) and Ewan West (1992), {{ISBN|0-19-869164-5}} ==External links== *https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/dr-a-m-willner-9206 (Alfred Maria Willner at the [Internet Broadway Database](/source/Internet_Broadway_Database)) {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Willner, Alfred Maria}} Category:Austrian opera librettists Category:Austrian male writers Category:Austrian operetta librettists Category:Writers from Vienna Category:1859 births Category:1929 deaths Category:19th-century Austrian philosophers Category:20th-century Austrian philosophers Category:Austrian musicologists Category:Musicologists from Austria-Hungary Category:Composers from Austria-Hungary Category:Composers from Vienna Category:Musicians from Vienna Category:Burials at Feuerhalle Simmering Category:19th-century Austrian musicologists Category:Librettists from Austria-Hungary Category:20th-century Austrian musicologists --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Alfred Maria Willner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_Maria_Willner) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_Maria_Willner?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.