Role

:

Composer Conductor

Country

:

Austria

Birth

:

April 30, 1870 in Komorn, Hungary

Death

:

October 24, 1948 in Bad Ischl, Austria

Period

:

Romantic

 

 

Contemporary

Genre

:

Opera

 

 

Vocal

 

Franz Lehár was a Hungarian composer of operettas, born on April 30, 1870, in the town of Komárom, which is now part of Slovakia. He was the eldest son of a bandmaster in the Austro-Hungarian army, and his mother was a singer. Lehár grew up in a musical family, and his father taught him to play the violin and piano from a young age. Lehár began his musical career as a violinist in his father's band, but he soon realized that his true passion was composing. He studied music at the Prague Conservatory and later at the Vienna Conservatory, where he was a student of Robert Fuchs and Franz Krenn. Lehár's first compositions were for the stage, and he wrote his first operetta, Kukuschka, in 1896. However, it was not until 1905 that he achieved his first major success with the operetta The Merry Widow. The Merry Widow was an instant hit and became one of the most popular operettas of all time. It was first performed in Vienna in 1905 and was an immediate success. The operetta was translated into many languages and performed all over the world. The Merry Widow made Lehár a household name and established him as one of the leading composers of operettas. Lehár went on to compose many more successful operettas, including The Count of Luxembourg (1909), Gypsy Love (1910), and The Land of Smiles (1929). His operettas were known for their catchy melodies, witty lyrics, and romantic themes. Lehár's music was often compared to that of Johann Strauss II, and he was sometimes referred to as the "Strauss of the operetta." Lehár's music was not limited to operettas, however. He also composed several operas, including The Tsarevich (1927) and Giuditta (1934). His music was also used in films, and he composed the score for the 1934 film version of The Merry Widow. Lehár's music was popular not only in Europe but also in the United States. His operettas were performed on Broadway, and he was invited to conduct his music with the New York Philharmonic in 1929. Lehár was also a frequent guest at the Hollywood Bowl, where his music was performed by the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Lehár continued to compose music throughout his life, but his later works were not as successful as his earlier ones. He died on October 24, 1948, in Bad Ischl, Austria, at the age of 78. In conclusion, Franz Lehár was a Hungarian composer of operettas who achieved great success with his catchy melodies, witty lyrics, and romantic themes. His most famous work, The Merry Widow, established him as one of the leading composers of operettas and made him a household name. Lehár's music was popular not only in Europe but also in the United States, and he was a frequent guest at the Hollywood Bowl. Although his later works were not as successful as his earlier ones, Lehár's music continues to be performed and enjoyed by audiences around the world.

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