Karl Milloecker was born in Vienna, Austria, on May 29, 1842. His
father, a jeweler, wanted him to enter the family business, but from his
childhood on, Karl was drawn to music. After studying music with private
teachers, he attended the Conservatory of the Gesellschaft der
Musikfreunde. Meanwhile, in his sixteenth year, he supported himself by
playing the flute in a theater orchestra. When his music study ended, he
became conductor of a theater in Graz in 1864; there his first operetta
was produced one year later. In 1866 he was back in Vienna, and from
1869 to 1883 he was principal conductor at the Theater-an-der-Wien where
most of his famous operettas were produced including _Countess Du Barry_
(_Graefin DuBarry_) in 1879, _The Beggar Student_ (_Der Bettelstudent_)
in 1882, _Gasparone_ in 1884, and _Poor Jonathan_ (_Der arme Jonathan_)
in 1890. Milloecker died in Baden, near Vienna, on December 31, 1899.
Milloecker’s most famous operetta is _The Beggar Student_ (_Der
Bettelstudent_), which was first produced at the Theater-an-der-Wien in
Vienna on December 6, 1882, and after that enjoyed highly successful
performances at the Casino Theater in New York in 1883, and the Alhambra
in London in 1884. The scene is Cracow, Poland; the time, 1704. General
Ollendorf, spurned by Laura, evolves an elaborate plot to avenge
himself. He finances the impoverished student, Symon, dresses him up as
a lord, and sends him off to woo and win Laura. Only after the wedding
does the General reveal the fact that Symon is a beggar. Just as
disgrace faces the young man, he becomes involved in a successful
maneuver to restore the rejected Polish king to his throne. Thus he
acquires wealth and a title, and is welcomed with pride and love by
Laura and her mother. Potpourris and selections from this tuneful
operetta always include the principal waltz melody which comes as a
first act finale, “_Ach ich hab’ sie ja nur auf die Schulter gekuesst_.”
Other delightful excerpts include Symon’s mazurka, “_Ich knuepfte manche
zarte Bande_,” his lament “_Ich hab’ kein Geld_,” and the second act
duet of Symon and Laura, “_Ich setz den Fall_.”