Franz Lehár
Franz Lehár (1870–1948) was an Austro-Hungarian composer whose operettas, especially The Merry Widow, became international successes.
The Merry Widow: A 1905 operetta by Franz Lehár about a wealthy widow and the diplomats seeking to keep her fortune in her homeland. Its 1905 success established Lehár as an internationally celebrated operetta composer.
Viennese operetta: A form of musical theater that developed in Vienna, combining spoken dialogue, songs, dance, and comic or romantic plots. Lehár became one of the form’s defining composers in the early twentieth century.
Komárom: A city on the Danube, now divided between Komárno in Slovakia and Komárom in Hungary. Lehár was born in the city when it belonged to the Kingdom of Hungary.
Victor Léon: An Austrian librettist and theater writer who co-wrote the libretto of The Merry Widow. His collaboration with Lehár produced the composer’s best-known operetta.
The Merry Widow waltz: A celebrated waltz from Franz Lehár’s operetta The Merry Widow, also known as “Vilia.” Its independent popularity shows how melodies from Lehár’s stage works traveled beyond the theater.
The Land of Smiles: A 1929 operetta by Franz Lehár, set partly in China, featuring the song “You Are My Heart’s Delight.” It exemplifies the more serious, romantically dramatic style of Lehár’s later operettas.
Waltz: A dance in triple meter, commonly characterized by a strong first beat and paired steps. Lehár’s lilting waltz melodies helped give his operettas their recognizable Viennese sound.
Austro-Hungarian Empire: A Central European dual monarchy that existed from 1867 until its dissolution in 1918. Lehár’s early life and musical career unfolded within this multilingual empire.
Leo Stein: An Austrian librettist who co-wrote the libretto of The Merry Widow with Victor Léon. His work with Léon supplied the plot that Lehár set to music.
The Merry Widow (1934 film): A 1934 American musical film directed by Ernst Lubitsch, adapted from Lehár’s operetta. Its Hollywood adaptation extended the operetta’s reach through a new medium.