Fun Trivia : E

Structure Sub-topic of: Musicals A-G Quizzes Interesting Questions, Facts and Information There are a total of 15 general entries.

Interesting Questions, Facts, and Information

E

Who composed the music of "Elisabeth"?

"Elisabeth"


Sylvester Levay. He also composed the music for "Mozart!" Michael Kunze wrote the lyrics for both musicals.



Where and when was the world premiere of "Elisabeth"?

"Elisabeth"


Vienna, September 1992. It ran in Vienna until 2000 and was then moved to Essen in Germany in 2001.



Now let's start on the show. Where does the prologue take place?

"Elisabeth"


in a place where the dead roam, maybe purgatory. The Judge of Souls ask Luigi Lucheni, Elisabeth's murderer, why he killed the Empress. We learn that Lucheni has been asked this question for 100 years now, and he finally answers that "Sisi" wanted to be killed because she was in love with Death. Death himself, a young yet timeless, handsome man, appears and confirms Lucheni's theory. "Weiß nicht wie geschehen kann was es gar nicht gibt - doch es stimmt, ich habe sie geliebt..."



Lucheni agrees to tell the Judge the whole story, through which he leads as a narrator. Act one starts in 1853. Duke Max in Bavaria, Sisi's father, is leaving the castle, and Elisabeth wants him to take her with him, for she hates living in a cage, not being allowed to do what she wants. How old is she then?

"Elisabeth"


15. She was born in 1838, that makes her fifteen years old in 1853. Sisi wants to be just like her father, but Max is in a hurry and doesn't listen. Later on the same day, Sisi falls off her trapeze. That's when she first encounters Death, whom she calls "my black prince".



In August 1853, Ludovika (Sisi's mother) and her daughters Helene and ELisabeth travel to Bad Ischl to meet the emperor Franz-Joseph and his mother Sophie, Ludovika's sister. Why?

"Elisabeth"


Helene is supposed to marry the Emperor. ... only Franz-Joseph falls head over heels in love with Sisi. Sophie is upset, but after hours of arguing she gives in, and they are allowed to get married. Franz-Joseph warns Sisi that life as an Empress won't be easy, but she doesn't take his warning seriously.



At the wedding reception, Death is also among the guests and sings his famous song. What is it called?

"Elisabeth"


Der Letzte Tanz. Death knows that in the end he will win, even though for the moment he has no power over Sisi - the last dance will be his.



In the following years Sisi feels let down and misunderstood. Death offers her himself as a better choice, but she refuses, and Death takes her first child instead. When she has a son, Sisi decides not to leave him to Sophie. She gives Franz-Joseph the choice between accepting her demand, thus ignoring his mother's wishes, and refusing it - thus risking to lose her. What's the name of the son who caused the issue?

"Elisabeth"


Rudolf. In the end of act one, Franz-Joseph accepts Sisi's demand.



In the beginning of act two, Franz-Joseph and Elisabeth become King and Queen of Hungary (June 8, 1867). Lucheni tries to sell some souvenirs while singing which song?

"Elisabeth"


Kitsch. "Mein Neues Sortiment" is the reprise of "Kitsch".



During the celebration that follows the coronation, Elisabeth meets Death again, but she tells him to leave. It seems like she has finally broken his spell over her. The song they sing in that scene has been added to the show in 2001. Do you know what it's called?

"Elisabeth"


Wenn Ich Tanzen Will. Death retreats and starts visiting nine-year-old Rudolf instead. Only when Elisabeth catches a disease does he return but she resists him then, too.



Sophie tries to break the power Sisi has over Franz-Joseph by sending another woman, a prostitute, to him. The Duke Grünne chooses the girl at Mrs. Wolf's bordello, watched by Lucheni. What is the name of the girl he chooses?

"Elisabeth"


Madeleine. She's infected with syphilis.



1895. Franz-Joseph and Elisabeth realize that their marriage has failed and that they are too different. Franz-Joseph remains in Vienna and Sisi travels around, leading an unstable life, always longing for Death, whom she now loves more than ever. On September 10, 1898, her wish finally comes true: Lucheni murders the Empress with a file (which has been given to him by Death), more or less by chance, for he actually wanted to kill someone else. Whom?

"Elisabeth"


The Duke of Orléans. "That's true!" He wanted to kill the Duke, but he didn't show, so Lucheni saw the Empress and murdered her instead.