Premiered in January 1893 'Ninetta', Strauss's twelfth operetta, was quite a success, running for 76 performances at the 'Theater an der Wien'. The story is filled with misunderstandings and complications but everything is sorted out in the end and the young lovers, Adelheid and Ferdinand, are free to marry. But they are a secondary couple anyway. It is the Russian-born princess Ninetta, widow of an Italian prince, and the Turkish hypnotist Cassim Pascha, who are the central characters. One of the most famous aria's from the operetta is 'Einst träumte mir…. 'sung by Cassim at the beginning of the third act. This aria is also known as 'Cassim's Waltz.