Master of the Strings - The Crown Prince

I made this video for three reasons: (1) to give more exposure to The Crown Prince (Austrian release, Kronprinz Rudolf) starring Max von Thun in the title role, a fabulous production that more people should see; (2) to use Frank Wildhorn's genius song Master of the Strings from the English Demo of Rudolf The Last Kiss [German language release: Fäden in der Hand, Rudolf Affaire Mayerling]; and (3) as a kind of tribute to the historical person on which it is based: Eduard Graf von Taaffe.

Close to the Emperor's heart (and ear), in the film Taaffe is portrayed as Austria-Hungary's reactionary Minister-President set firmly athwart Crown Prince Rudolf's desires to liberalize the Empire. He is frequently seen influencing Rudolf's father, and keeping tabs via the police on all the Crown Prince's doings. In Wildhorn's musical this song is part of Rudolf's nightmare sequence, concerning the manipulative power of his political foe. The film quite heavily suggests that Taaffe's political maneuvering contributed quite heavily in Rudolf's drive towards his eventual suicide at his hunting lodge at Mayerling. This video reflects that.

"He occupied in fact a perfect middle position: a German, but a conservative; a noble, but a German; without national enthusiasm, but anxious to be just to the nationalities. He had been the boyhood companion of the Emperor, and was perhaps nearer to the Emperor's politician conceptions than any other Austrian statesman; but, being only a count and not an Emperor, he was not blinded by dynastic prejudices he was proud enough to stand above the peoples, but not proud enough to ignore their existence. He was tactful, conciliatory, not without intellectual interests, and not without knowledge of contemporary Europe, the best type of Austrian noble.

But he had also the defects of his class: he was prepared to let things drag along, hoping that some solution would turn up from heaven; he was sceptical of everything, including his own ability; and of course, though he wanted to conciliate the peoples, he did not really believe that they were fit to rule."

(AJP Taylor, The Habsburg Monarchy, p 174.)

Category:

Music

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[BwayBoundChristian]

This video really helped me understand the Musical a lot more. Thank you so much!! This song is so scary...and nightmarish. Which is good.

Great, Great video!!!!! :D

[TheLivestile]

such a great voice

thats sooo sexy

love it!!!

[Artagnang]

I prefer ther german version.



[gfw48nb]

i love this with uwe kröger

[Seelenkristall]

Passt gut zusammen. :-)