Introduction
“The Sound of Music” is a famous musical film that was released in 1965. It is based on the true story of the von Trapp family, who lived in Austria during World War II. The film follows the story of Maria, a young woman who becomes the governess of the seven von Trapp children and eventually falls in love with their father, Captain von Trapp. The film became a huge success and won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture. However, the real story of the von Trapp family is quite different from the one portrayed in the film.
The Real Story
The von Trapp family was a real family that lived in Austria during the 1930s and 1940s. They were a wealthy family who lived in a villa in Salzburg. The family was composed of the father, Georg von Trapp, his first wife, Agathe Whitehead, and their seven children: Rupert, Agathe, Maria, Werner, Hedwig, Johanna, and Martina. Agathe died in 1922, and Georg later remarried Maria Augusta Kutschera, who became the stepmother of the seven children.
The family was not a musical family, and they did not perform together as a singing group. Maria was hired as a governess for the children in 1926, and she did teach them how to sing. However, she did not fall in love with Georg until after he became a widower in 1927. They married in 1927, and Maria became the stepmother of the children.
The Escape From Austria
During World War II, Austria was annexed by Nazi Germany. Georg von Trapp was offered a commission in the German Navy, but he refused to serve under the Nazi regime. The family decided to leave Austria and moved to Italy in 1938. They eventually settled in the United States in 1942, where they lived in Vermont and became U.S. citizens.
The Musical Career
The von Trapp family did not start performing together as a singing group until after they moved to the United States. They were discovered by a music producer in 1949 and began performing as a group. They became popular and toured extensively in the United States and other countries. They eventually settled in Vermont and opened a ski lodge, which they ran for many years.
The Sound of Music
The musical film “The Sound of Music” was based on the true story of the von Trapp family, but it was highly fictionalized for dramatic effect. The film portrayed the family as a musical family who sang together and escaped from Austria because of their opposition to the Nazi regime. In reality, the family was not a musical family, and they left Austria because Georg von Trapp refused to serve in the German Navy.
Conclusion
The real story of the von Trapp family is quite different from the one portrayed in “The Sound of Music.” While the film is a classic and beloved by many, it is important to remember that it is a work of fiction and not an accurate portrayal of the family’s life. The von Trapp family’s musical career and escape from Austria are still impressive accomplishments, and their story is one that continues to inspire many people today.
