Rhapsody is an operetta in 2 Acts by Fritz Kreisler (music) and John La Touche (lyrics) with a book by Arnold Sundgaard and Leonard Louis Levinson that is based on an original story by A. N. Nagler.[1] The music from the operetta is taken mainly from Kreisler's 1932 Austrian-language operetta Sissy and from his large collection of works for violin and piano; with only a relatively small portion of new music by Kreisler being added to the operetta's score.[2] While La Touche was the primary lyricist, playwright Blevins Davis and American composer Robert Russell Bennett also contributed some lyrics.[3] Additionally, Davis was the operetta's producer (along with the New York socialite Lorraine Manville Dresselhuys), and Bennett was the orchestrater of Kreisler's music which was originally scored for piano.[4] The Austrian conductor Fritz Mahler served as the production's music director.[1]
Opening at the New Century Theatre on Broadway on November 22, 1944, Rhapsody is set within the court of Roman Emperor Francis I and Empress Maria Theresa. The operetta was directed and choreographed by Russian-American ballet dancer David Lichine; who had achieved fame as a leading artist with The Royal Ballet in London and as a choreographer in Hollywood films.[5] The production boasted highly expensive and elaborate sets designed by Tony Award winning designer Oliver Smith; with a production value of $300,000.00[6] Frank Bevan designed the production's costumes and Stanley McCandless served as lighting designer.[3] While critics praised the music and the singing of the show's leads, reviews of the operetta's written dialogue were universally bad; and the show was widely mocked in the press as a result.[6][3][4][1] The play closed on December 2, 1944, after just 14 performances which proceeded 8 additional performances given in previews; making it one of the most expensive flops on Broadway at the time that it closed.[6]