THE STORY
is set on a large Balkan agricultural estate in the 1920s. It is one of a number of properties belonging to the glamorous Countess Maritza. She has not visited the place for some time, prefering the whirl of international high society in the capitals of Europe. A new manager has recently been appointed to oversee the property.
ACT I
Manja the gipsy girl suspects that this new manager is accustomed to a more elevated life-style than his present position. He enters with a group of children from the village who sing and dance for him as a special thank-you for his kindness to them. It is revesled that the manager is none other than Count Tassilo Endrody-Wittenberg, formerly the toast of Budapest and Vienna. His father's death has left his family penniless.
Tassilo has been forced to sell-up and take his present menial position in order to provide a dowry for his younger sister, Lisa, in the hope that she will find a better future. He admits to a friend that he often longs for his old way of life, but he has at least kept news of his family's ruin from Lisa.
The tranquility of Tassilo's present pastoral existence is shattered by the arrival of the countess and her entourage. They have come to spend an evening at the property to celebrate the countess' engagement. Tassilo is alarmed to find that Lisa is one of the vistors. At the first opportune moment Tassilo tells Lisa that his presenmt situation is the result of a crazy wager, but she must not reveal his true identity. Together they relive the joys of their earlier life.
It is revealed that Maritza's engagement is a sham, to encourage unwelcome would-be suitors. She names her pretend fiance after one of the characters in Johann Strauss' The Gyspy Baron - Baron Kiloman Zsupan from Varasdin. Difficulties arise when someone of just that name arrives, bent on sweeping Maritza off her feet and carrying her off to his home. When the guests are celebrating indoors, Tassilo gives vent to his mood of depression outside on the terrace, accompanied by a gipsy violinist. Maritza and her guests are about to leave when Manja asks if she may read her palm. Manja foretells that within a month Maritza will fall in love with a handsome nobleman. Her independence at stake, Maritza tells her guests to leave. She will remain on the estate alone, where there is no one who fits the gipsy's description.
ACT II
A month has passed. Maritza's guests return. Zsupan realises that his intention to marry Maritza was a mistake. Instead, a strong mutual attraction has developed between him and Lisa.
Prince Popolescu, Maritza's elderly admirer, suggests a party to celebrate their reunion. But Maritza is beginning to be attracted to the sincerity and straightforwardness of her manager. She finds herself tiring of the superficiality of her society friends.
"If I were a simple village girl," she asks Tassilo, "how would you talk to me?" Tassilo acts out the part of a young society man making up to a pretty girl. Maritza is greatly charmed when Tassilo is caught up in his play-acting and realises he has made a sincere declaration of love to her.
Popolescu shatters Maritza's romantic notions. The manager has been seen hand in hand with Lisa. A letter Tassilo carelessly left lying around seems to point to his quest for Maritza's money.
In the finale Maritza exposes Tassilo to her guests as a penniless aristocrat, an imposter seeking her fortune. With contempt, she pays him off with a bundle of banknotes, With equal vehemence he flings the money at the assembled company. Lisa intervenes and Maritza realises that the two are, in fact, brother and sister. She is now certain of Tassilo's love, but how can she redeem herself in his eyes?
ACT III
The following day, Tassilo presents himself to Maritza to finalise business matters and to say goodbye, before leaving. Obviously the two are deeply in love with each other, but neither will take the first step towards reconciliation. Instead Maritza writes Tassilo a reference and says goodbye.
Tassilo and Lisa are about to leave when an unexpected visitor arrives. It is Princess Bozena Cuddenstein, Tassilo's wealthy aunt, with her servant Penezek in tow. The princess has only just heard of the misfortunes of Tassilo's family and is determined to help him. She even has a wealthy bride in mind for him.
The princess quickly recognises the relationship between Maritza and Tassilo and is quite impressed with Maritza. Still, there is no move to reconciliaton until Maritza asks if Tassilo has read her reference for his next job. He opens the envelope, takes out the letter and reads:
Though as a manager you won't do,
As husband I would welcome you.
All is forgiven. The curtain falls on two happy couples: Maritza and Tassilo, Lisa and Zsupan.