The work gives a fictionalized account of Schubert's romantic life, and the story was adapted from the 1912 novel Schwammerl by Rudolf Hans Bartsch (1873–1952).

[3] Debuting during World War I, the operetta's popularity was fueled by the public's taste for nostalgia, harnessing an old-fashioned, sentimental story and Schubert's familiar music.

[2] Das Dreimäderlhaus then premiered in Paris on May 7, 1921, in a French adaptation by Hugues Delorme and Léon Abric called Chanson d'amour (Song of Love).

In London, the operetta was called Lilac Time, with an adapted libretto by Adrian Ross and music arranged by George H. Clutsam, using some of Berté's work.

The Broadway production of Blossom Time opened at the Ambassador Theatre on September 29, 1921, where it ran for 592 performances, starring Bertram Peacock and Olga Cook.

The plot follows the basic story of the original, but many significant details are changed, well-known Schubert pieces are gratuitously inserted and historically inaccurate material familiar to Americans of the era is added.

For example, in Act I, Schubert writes "Ständchen" for Count Scharntoff, who plans to give it (as his own work) to his wife, who is in love with Schober.

His friends return to his lodgings after the concert just before Schubert dies, surrounded by angels, as "Ave Maria" is heard.

In 1922, in England, Das Dreimäderlhaus was adapted as Lilac Time by Adrian Ross with music by George H. Clutsam.

Lilac Time opened at the Lyric Theatre on December 22, 1922, and ran for 626 performances,[11] The production was directed by Dion Boucicault; the musical director was Clarence Raybould.

The tenor Richard Tauber played Schubert in several productions and tours of Das Dreimäderlhaus in Europe, first at Plauen, Germany, on 24 January 1920,[22] and then in five performances of the original version at the Theater an der Wien in October 1921 [Neue Freie Presse].

He presented a new version of it in London in 1933, sung in German but with the English title Lilac Time, adapted by himself and Sylvio Mossée.

In 1959 June Bronhill and Thomas Round recorded Lilac Time for HMV when they were stars of Sadler's Wells Opera.

[4] In 2005, UK label Classics for Pleasure, a branch of EMI, released on CD the 1959 HMV recording of Lilac Time[25]