"An der Donau, wenn der Wein blüht" ... Barnabas von Géczy / Hélène Regelly (1933)

Today's video features two versions of the classic song "An der Donau, wenn der Wein blüht" (Lit. When the grapevines bloom on the Danube) which was the leitmotiv of the movie "Walzerkrieg". The first version is a beautiful orchestral recording by Barnabas von Géczy and the second a French version by the soprano Hélène Regelly.
"Walzerkrieg" (Lit. War of the the Waltzes) is a 1933 musical comedy by Ludwig Berger about the rivalry between composers Joseph Lanner (Paul Hörbiger) and Johann Strauss (Adolf Strauss). It featured Renate Müller as Katti, Lanner's daughter and Willy Fritsch as Gustl - a musician in Lanner's orchestra who saves the day and ends up with Katti. Other notable actors in the movie were Hanna Waag as Queen Victoria, Theo Lingen and Rosy Barsony. The musical score was composed by Franz Grothe and Alois Melichar who made use of compositions by Strauss and Lanner.
A French version of "Walzerkrieg" was made simultaneously and was called "La Guerre des Valses". The song "An der Donau, wenn der Wein blüht" was translated as "Valse Tendre...Valse Blonde".
"La Guerre des Valses" starred Belgo-French actor Fernand Gravey (1905-1970) in the part played by Willy Fritsch. A year earlier Gravey had already replaced Fritsch in the French and English versions of Ludwig Berger's "Ich bei Tag und du bei Nacht" ("A moi le jour, à toi la nuit" / "Early to bed"). Gravey was born in Brussels - the son of an acting couple. After acting in a few Belgian short movies as a child he spent the First World War in England and later served in the merchant marine which meant he was fluent in both French and English. His first talkie was the multi-language production "Komm zu mir zum Rendezvous" / "L' amour chante" (1930). He went on to star in numerous movies in France, England and eventually Hollywood (as Fernand Gravet) where he played Johann Strauss in the 1938 MGM biopic "The Great Waltz" with Luise Rainer and Miliza Korjus. Fernand Gravey also made a number of recordings yet I don't know whether he recorded a version of "Valse Tendre...Valse Blonde". He did however record the French version of "Es war einmal ein Musikus" : • C'etait un musicien and an English version of "Wenn ich Sonntags in mein Kino geh..." from "Early to Bed" (Ich bei Tag und du bei Nacht) : • Fernand Gravey " Sunda... .
About the records :
"An der Donau, wenn der Wein blüht"
Barnabas von Géczy mit seinem Orchester
Telefunken
A 1480 / mx. 19337
Berlin,
1933
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"Valse Tendre ... Valse Blonde"
Hélène Regelly
Orchestre sous la direction d' André Valsien
Odeon
250.546 / mx. Ki 6268
Paris,
30-10-1933

[@dataglobus7873]

La nostalgie d'une monde perdu.....

[@Lurgansahib]

Love this melody.

[@hrbooksmusic7878]

Ein herrlich charmantes Lied, beschwingt auf die süßeste Wiener Weise... ⭐️ 🎼🎵🎶🎶 ⭐️ ... eingebettet in ein zauberhaftes Video... ✨✨✨
Vielen Dank für die wundervolle Gesamt-Komposition! 🙏🍀

[@arnoldovargasbenitez9313]

Es un Vals maravillosamente evocador de una época romántica

[@hrbooksmusic7878]

@@arnoldovargasbenitez9313
¡Estoy de acuerdo! 👍
Muchos saludos cordiales 🍀🍀🍀

[@janettewalker3991]

I love to listen and enjoy the video, your efforts and notes are much appreciated.

[@Leotaurus1975]

Thank you!