Elisabeth Das Musical
| Fandom | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Elisabeth das Musical |
| Abbreviation(s): | Elisabeth, EdM |
| Creator: | Szylveszter Levay and Michael Kunze |
| Date(s): | 1992 (first production) |
| Medium: | musical |
| Country of Origin: | Austria, Germany, Hungary |
| External Links: | |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
This article is a stub. Please help us out by adding more content. |
Elisabeth das Musical is a European musical by (relatively well-known) composers Sylvester Levay and Michael Kunze, and performed at first primarily in German, though it has since been performed in multiple countries and languages, including Hungarian, French, Korean, Japanese, and Dutch. It has a somewhat fantastical story, and follows (its own versions of) several historical persons, including the turn of the century assassin Luigi Lucheni, and the Austrian royals Elisabeth and Rudolf, including and centering around their "relationship" with the personified allegorical representation of Death or the Grim Reaper. It was suspected, with supporting evidence, to have been made partially as a counter or in response to the, often seen as overly-saccharine for the historical era they portray, "Sissi" series of movies. It also focuses on the political tensions, including rising antisemitism homophobia and gender roles, of the late 19th century and how that effected the people living in it. Overall with careful and beautiful music but a dark tone, though scattered with very occasional moments of humor or levity.
It has gathered a fandom, like many musicals form the same area and groups, both among its original performance languages, but also others through translation including some in Russian and English.
Fanworks
Fanworks exist for all sorts of characters and themes. Including some focusing on Lucheni and his remorse, or lack of remorse for assassinations and bombings, and looking at the role of such in politics and revolt. However many focus on the relationships Between Elisabeth/Death and Rudolf/Death and related characters, with a variety of focuses. Many go into those relationships (much like the source does) as allegories or explorations for themes of difficulties, suicide, self harm, drug addiction (which the IRL Rudolf was known to do in relation to morphine), or sadomasochism/bdsm, "normal" risk taking and adventure, and sudden illness. Some fan works focus on sensual or "kinky" aspects and hard gothic sensuality. Many mix or engage in a little of both. There is a mix - less commonly the history of the era is explored. Note: sometimes there has been or is drama in broader fandom over the dark themes portrayed, either in canon, or in fanworks.
Example Fanworks
- Liebe Leben; Der Totentanz by AnglophilicSins
- A friend and a lover by Ginkyou, and inspired by it Die Schatten by Crimsondemons (warning: self injury and talk of addiction in both)
- Waking Dream by Fyre (warning: addiction)
- The Needs of the Many by Dolphinsarcasm
- To drown with you in nothingness, and arise with you as fire by Landofspaceandrainbows, focuses a bit more on the history and politics.
- He who would take me confidingly in his arms by Allumerlesoir