About the work
Polenblut (Polish Blood) is an operetta in three acts by Oskar Nedbal, with a libretto by Leo Stein after a story by Alexander Pushkin. It premiered on 25 October 1913 at the Carltheater in Vienna.
Plot
The impoverished Polish count Bolo Baranski is to marry the wealthy landowner's daughter Helena, whom he has never met. Disguised as the housekeeper Marynia, Helena secretly restores order to his estate, and Bolo falls in love with the supposed peasant girl without recognising his intended bride.
Cultural significance
With thousands of performances in Vienna alone, Polenblut became one of the most successful operettas of the interwar years and remains part of the repertoire of Central European operetta houses today.