Heimat, deine Sterne … R.A Dvorsky & Allan-Terzett / Tino Rossi (Prague 1941 / Paris 1943)

Today’ s video features the classic song “Heimat, deine Sterne in two very different versions by non-German singers and musicians. The first version was recorded in Prague in December 1941 by the orchestra of R.A. Dvorsky with beautiful vocals by the Allan-Terzett / Sestry Allanovy. This post-war re-release is not in the best condition as is audible. Rudolf Antonin Dvorsky (1899-1965) was probably Czechoslovakia’s most popular bandleader of the 1930s and 1940s - recording nearly 2000 sides for Ultraphon (he was also a member of the company’s board of directors). During the German occupation he also made recordings in German which were released on Telefunken - some of these songs being translations of Czech hits such as “Hm Hm (du bist so zauberhaft) or Peter! Peter! Wo warst du heute Nacht?“ (Hadej Hadej in Czech). From 1942 onwards he suffered ill health and disbanded his orchestra in 1944. After the communists came to power Dvorsky lost his lucrative publishing house. Wanting to leave Czechoslovakia, he was arrested for treason in 1953. He was put on trial and imprisoned until 1956 (the condemnations were revoked in 1968). R.A. Dvorsky was only allowed to perform again in 1965. The Allan-Terzett or Sestry Allanovy were a vocal group which existed between 1940 and 1967 and initially consisted of : Jiřina Salačová, Vera Kočvarová and Radka Hlavsová. They modelled their singing style after the Boswell Sisters and the Andrews Sisters. In the summer of 1943 Tino Rossi recorded the French version of “Heimat, deine Sterne“ which became “Un Bouquet d’Etoiles“ (A Bouquet of Stars). This beautifully orchestrated version also features a choir which gives the impression of flying and looking down to earth. Other French versions were recorded by Yvon Jeanclaude for Polydor and Le Chanteur Sans Nom for the Belgian label Rythme. “Heimat, deine Sterne“ was composed by Werner Bochmann and Erich Knauf for the 1941 comedy “Quax, der Bruchpilot“ (Quax, the Crash Pilot) starring Heinz Rühmann. The song became an instant hit and many - mostly serious / melancholic - versions were recorded - The two records featured in the video differ from those recordings. Journalist and writer Erich Knauf (1895-1944) - the song’s lyricist - was arrested by the Gestapo in 1944 for telling political jokes and “undermining military morale“. He was tried at the People’s Court (Volksgerichtshof) in front of the notorious Roland Freisler who condemned him to death. He was beheaded on . About the record : “Heimat deine Sterne“ Tanzorchester R.A. Dvorsky Gesang Allan-Terzett Telefunken A 10 474 / mx. 26 752 Prague, December 1941 ***************************************************************** “Un Bouquet d’Etoiles“ Tino Rossi Orchestre sous la direction de Jacques Météhen Columbia, LF 178 / mx. CL7922-I7785-I Paris, July 1943 Equipment used : Audio : Vinylstudio (Recording with correct recording curve) Adobe Audition (Re-mastering) ClickRepair DeNoise Photo Restoration : Gigapixel AI Pixbim Colorsurprise AI Abobe Photoshop Video : Magix VideoDeluxe Plus