Composer

:

Franz Lehár

Genre

:

Opera

Style

:

Opera

First Performance

:

1909

Movement_count

:

19

Movement ....

"Maids of Athens" is an operetta composed by Franz Lehár, a Hungarian composer, in 1921. The plot of the operetta revolves around a young man named Count Alexis who falls in love with a beautiful Greek girl named Eurydice. However, Eurydice is already engaged to a wealthy Greek merchant named Demetrius. Count Alexis, determined to win Eurydice's heart, disguises himself as a poor musician and enters a singing competition in Athens, where Eurydice is one of the judges. He wins the competition and Eurydice falls in love with him, not knowing his true identity. However, when Demetrius finds out about their love affair, he challenges Count Alexis to a duel. In the end, Count Alexis wins the duel and Eurydice chooses to be with him. The operetta premiered on October 22, 1921, at the Theater an der Wien in Vienna, Austria. It was a huge success and was later translated into several languages, including English, French, and Italian. The music of "Maids of Athens" is characterized by Lehár's signature waltz melodies and catchy tunes. The operetta consists of three acts and several musical numbers, including "The Song of Athens," "The Greek Dance," and "The Count's Serenade." The first movement of the operetta is set in Athens, where Count Alexis meets Eurydice for the first time. The second movement takes place during the singing competition, where Count Alexis disguises himself as a poor musician. The third movement is the climax of the operetta, where Count Alexis and Demetrius engage in a duel to win Eurydice's heart. "Maids of Athens" is known for its light-hearted and romantic plot, as well as its beautiful music. It is considered one of Lehár's most popular operettas and has been performed in theaters around the world. The operetta's popularity has also led to several adaptations, including a film version in 1932 and a television adaptation in 1960.

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