
Emmerich Kálmán was a Hungarian composer who left a lasting mark on music history as a master of operetta with a gypsy soul and Viennese elegance. His "Countess Maritza" is a work full of emotion, czardas rhythms, and melancholy, and the aria "Play, Gypsy" gains exceptional depth and drama in the interpretation by Ryszard Tarasewicz.
Born in 1882 in Siófok, Hungary, Kálmán grew up surrounded by folk and classical music, which shaped his distinctive style combining Hungarian vitality with the sophistication of Viennese operetta. Though he initially dreamed of becoming a pianist, illness forced him to focus on composition, which turned out to be a gift to the musical world.
"Countess Maritza," composed in 1924, is one of his most important works. The operetta tells the story of a beautiful aristocrat who announces fake engagement for fun, unaware that her chosen name belongs to a real man. Behind the playful plot lies a romantic drama filled with longing, pride, and gypsy melodies. The aria "Komm, Zigan"—known in Polish as "Graj, Cyganie" is one of the most moving moments: a lament of a man who has lost everything but memory and music.
Ryszard Tarasewicz, a Polish operetta singer, was one of the most outstanding interpreters of this repertoire. His rendition of "Play, Gypsy" stood out not only for its technical precision but also for its emotional truth. Tarasewicz captured both the pride and sorrow of the character his voice carried the gypsy spirit, aristocratic nostalgia, and human fragility.
Thanks to performers like Tarasewicz, Kálmán’s music not only endures but continues to touch hearts. And "Play, Gypsy"-though just one aria-becomes a song of loss, memory, and dignity that refuses to fade with time.
"Play the Gypsies" is not the title of Ryszard Tarasewicz's album, but an aria from the operetta "Countess Mariza" by Emmerich Kálmán.
Here are some details:
- "Play the Gypsies" is the Polish version of the famous aria "Komm, Zigan" from the operetta Gräfin Mariza (1924), one of Kálmán's most famous compositions.
- Ryszard Tarasewicz performed this aria in concerts and operetta recordings, although it was not released as a separate album titled "Play the Gypsies."
It is possible that the aria appeared on one of the compilations or albums with operetta repertoire, such as "Operetta Arias and Songs" (1971) or "I Sing This Song to You" (1976).