Adieu, es ist zu schön um wahr zu sein ! ... Robert Renard (Otto Dobrindt) (Berlin - 1933)

Today's video features another wonderful and rich Robert Renard / Otto Dobrindt recording. The tango "Adieu, es ist zu schön um wahr zu sein..." (Lit. Adieu, it is too good to be true) was composed by Bronislaw Kaper and Walter Jurmann for the 1933 Austrian movie "Abenteuer am Lido" (Lit. Adventure at the lido). This movie was a showcase for the British-American tenor Alfred Piccaver (1884-1958) who enjoyed great popularity in Austria. His co-stars were Nora Gregor, Walter Rilla and Szöke "S.Z." Szakall who had all left Germany. For director Richard Oswald "Abenteuer am Lido" was his first movie in exile.

The music was composed by Walter Jurmann, Bronislaw Kaper and lyricist Fritz Rotter - who created some of the most popular songs of the early 1930's such as Jan Kiepura's "Ninon". All three had to emigrate after 1933 and Bronislav Kaper and Walter Jurmann became highly successful composers in the United States. Kaper won an Oscar for his work on the 1953 movie "Lili" while Walter Jurmann composed songs such as the immortal "San Francisco" and scored movies such as "Mutiny on the Bounty" (1935 version, the 1962 version was scored by Kaper).

Due to the large number of Jewish artists working on "Abenteuer am Lido", the movie was not shown in Germany (source : Wikipedia) yet the songs were recorded and released : "Adieu, es ist zu schön um wahr zu sein..." was recorded by Herbert Ernst Groh with Otto Dobrindt and his orchestra as well as the by the Kardosch-Sänger with Hans Schindler and his orchestra. These versions as well as Alfred Piccaver's movie performance can be found on YouTube. More recently the song had also been performed by Max Raabe.

The record featured in the video is a pressing for the Belgian / French speaking market with the titles translated into French. The label also mentions the name of Alfred Piccaver. Interestingly a French version of "Abenteuer am Lido" was made as well. Called "Le Chant du Destin" it starred French tenor Lucien Muratore. Apparently this movie was only released in 1936.

The previous owner of this record felt that it was " a true German tango of the early 1930s" as he wrote on the label (in French).

About the record :

"C'est trop beau pour être vrai"
(Adieu, es ist zu schön um wahr zu sein)
Robert Renard et son Orchestre de Danse

Parlophon
B. 17 192-II / mx. Be10488
Berin, 1933

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