Ach wie so herrlich zu schau'n

Johann Strauss's (1825-1899) ninth operetta Eine Nacht in Venedig (A Night in Venice) premiered 1883 in Berlin and is his only operetta to be premiered outside Vienna. Although the score gained high acclaim, the press criticized the original libretto as silly. Strauss made several alterations to the work and scored a huge triumph with the Viennese premiere, one month later, where it ran for 44 performances at the Theater an der Wien. The famous aria Ach, wie so herrlich zu schauen is sung by Caramello at the beginning of the third act. This aria is also known as the Lagunen-Walzer.