Mitja Nikisch et son Orchestre -- Eine Liebelei, so nebenbei (Such A Casual Love Affair), Foxtrott (Holländer-Liebmann) aus dem Ufatonfilm "Einbrecher", HMV 1931

See more recordings by Mitja Nikisch's dance orchestra: Ich steh' im Schnee (I'm Waiting in a Snow) [ Ссылка ] Ich kann, ich will (Should I?) [ Ссылка ] Lass' mich einmal deine Carmen sein (Let Me Be Your Carmen) [ Ссылка ]

NOTE: Mitja NIKISCH (b. Leipzig, Germany 1899 - D. Venice, Italy 1936) son of Arthur Nikisch -- Hungarian conductor, one of the finest performers of Beethoven symphonies in early 20th century. Mitja studied piano with famous virtuoses, but he was torn between his duty as keeper of the family tradition of classical music and his overpowering love for jazz. Therefore, in spite of his career as classical pianist, he at the same time achieved growing reputation in Berlin jazz circles as an extraordinary band leader. In 1925 he completed his own dance band featuring such first-class musicians as American clarinetist Danny Polo, Polish trumpeter Ady Rosner or brothers Waldi (drums) and Adalbert (violin) Luczkowski. Famous German guitar virtuose Otto Sachsenhauser expressed in 1929 his opinion about Nikisch's band as "the best dance orchestra he ever heard!". In early 1930s Mitja Nikisch's orchestra had engagement at the Casanova-International Casino. However, seizing power in Germany by the NSDAP in 1933 marked the end of Nikisch's career. Also, his misfortune in marriage with film actress Nora Gregor, whom he divorced in 1934 added to his depression. In 1936, he committed suicide during his stay in Venice.

Wilhelm ("Willy") Fritsch (b.1901 in Katowice, Poland -- d. 1973 in Hamburg) German theater & film actor. He was born to a factory owner in Katowice (Upper Silesia, Poland) yet after his father's bankruptcy in 1912, the family moved to Berlin. From 1919 Willy attended Max Reinhardt's drama school at the Deutsches Theater, where he debuted with small roles, and made his debut in films as a supporting player in 1921's Miß Venus. Fritsch remained a popular juvenile figure in films and the theater, but his real success came after being paired with Lilian Harvey in 1928, when they appeared regularly together in UFA movies like Der Kongreß tanzt (Congress Dances) by Erik Charell, released every year thereafter until Harvey's emigration in 1939. Fritsch managed to survive the Hitler era without any loss of prestige. After 1945, he continued to appear on stage and in movies.

Lilian HARVEY (nee Helene Lilian Muriel Pape in Hornsey, London 1906 -- d. 1968 in Juan-les-Pins, France) Actress and singer, long-based in Germany, where she is best known for her role in Erik Charell's 1931 film Der Kongress tanzt. Her mother was English and her father was a German businessman. During the 1st World War I the family found itself in Magdeburg, and Lilian was sent to live in Switzerland. After the war, the Papes lived in Berlin where Lilian began attending the dance and voice school of the Berlin State Opera. After an engagement as a revue dancer in Vienna in 1924, she received movie roles in silent films. Because of her training as a singer, Harvey was able to pursue a career during the talkie era of the early 1930s. In 1931, Harvey played the leading part in the film Der Kongreß tanzt (The Congress Dances). Harvey and Fritsch became the "dream couple" of German movies in the early 1930s. And German press announced her to be "the sweetest girl in the world". Her subsequent movies were filmed in English and French versions, so Harvey became known outside of Germany. She was invited to Hollywood, but her 4 movies for the Fox, were not as successful as her German films. In 1935, Lilian Harvey returned to Germany where she was placed under close observation by the Gestapo. Nevertheless she made further movies for the UFA until 1939, when -- after the illegal emigration to Paris of Harvey's friend, choreographer Jos Keith (whom she helped organise his escape) she was asked to leave Germany. Her real-estate fortune was confiscated and Harvey travelled to her residence in Juan-les-Pins in France and then to USA, where she worked as a nurse. In 1945 she returned to France, where she contunued touring with the concerts and operated a souvenir shop.

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