In the narrative of the operetta, the legendary violinist Niccolò Paganini finds himself entangled in a romance with Princess Anna Elisa, Napoleon's sister. In Act II, after losing his possessions (including his violin) in a card game, Paganini sings this aria to explain how he "charms" women.

The recording by the official Electrecord label remains the definitive version for fans of the genre. It serves as a historical document of the "Silver Age of Operetta," a period when Lehár moved away from purely lighthearted plots toward more serious, bittersweet biographical dramas. Ion Dacian - Aria ''Eu pe strune am cantat''

: It is a song of both conquest and profound loneliness. While the lyrics celebrate his history of romance ("I have loved and kissed women"), the underlying subtext—emphasized by Lehár's lush, symphonic scoring—reveals a man who ultimately belongs to no one but his art.

: Dacian possessed a rare lirico-leggero tenor voice that allowed him to navigate the aria's high notes with a "silky" texture rather than the aggressive power of a dramatic tenor.

Ion Dacian (1911–1981) was the undisputed "King of Romanian Operetta". His rendition of "Eu pe strune am cântat" is celebrated for several reasons:

: The Romanian translation of the title, which translates literally to "I have played on the strings [of hearts]," shifts the focus slightly from the physical "kissing" of the German original to a more poetic, instrumental metaphor—aligning the singer's voice with Paganini's violin.

: Dacian was known for his "charming" stage presence. In this aria, he balanced the character’s bravado with a distinct Romanian dor (longing), turning a standard operetta showpiece into a vulnerable confession of an artist's isolation. Legacy of the Recording

The aria (historically known in German as "Gern hab' ich die Frau'n geküsst" ) is the centerpiece of Franz Lehár's 1925 operetta, Paganini . While originally composed for the legendary tenor Richard Tauber, it became a defining signature for Romanian tenor Ion Dacian , whose interpretation added a layer of soulful, Mediterranean melancholy that resonated deeply with Romanian audiences. The Context of the Aria