Perhaps more than any other family in the world, the von Trapps story has been immortalized on stage and screen and has captured the hearts of millions of fans around the world. No other name evokes such vivid memories or such burning admiration as the name “von Trapp”. The legendary story of this musical family’s escape from Nazi Austria is one of the most beloved in recent history. But have you ever wondered how much of the story told in “Smiles and Tears” is exactly how it happened in real life?
In her book, “The Story of the Trapp Family Singers,” Maria von Trapp describes the turn of events that brought her from Salzburg’s Nonnberg Abbey to the von Trapp villa as a teacher and eventually to her new role. as a mother of seven growing children. . As the film shows, Maria Augusta Kutschera was a postulant at the Abbey who caused some trouble for the nuns and also taught fifth grade to the Abbey schoolgirls. Her previous life had been one of mountain hiking and constant activity, and she soon developed severe headaches as she transitioned to a cloistered life. Maria’s doctor advised her to seek a different lifestyle, and it so happened that the Reverend Mother had received a request from a certain naval officer for a home tutor for her sick daughter. And so Maria embarked on her journey to the von Trapp home.
Contrary to the story of the famous film, Maria was not destined to be the governess of the seven children; but before long Maria’s liveliness and music had brought all the children together in song and activity, and the compulsory separation of age groups, which was typical of the upper class at that time, ceased to exist. When Maria’s original student recovered, she became governess to the seven Trapp children, encouraging them in sports, manual labor, and, of course, music.
Contrary to popular belief, the von Trapp children knew a great deal about music, and the Captain is reported to have said that his children often did nothing but sing all day. But Maria introduced the family to many Austrian folk songs and taught them how to harmonize the parts.
As Maria’s stay with the family continued, the children and the Captain grew fond of her and did not like the idea of the day she would return to the Abbey. However, some things got in the way of her staying there. First, the Captain felt compelled to continue his courtship with Princess Yvonne, the real-life “Baroness Schrader” who was a distant cousin of his late wife. Second, Maria herself was not in love with the Captain and she anticipated her return to her previous life. But as things progressed between the princess and Captain von Trapp, she realized that he loved Maria and not the Viennese countess. So, on the day he had planned to propose to Yvonne, he broke off their relationship with the intention of marrying Maria.
