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Franz Lehár
(1870 - 1948)
Franz Christian Lehár (April 30, 1870 - October 24, 1948), an Austrian composer of Hungarian descent, was the leading 20th-century operetta composer. He revitalized the genre made universally popular by the previous generation of Austrian composers such as Jacques Offenbach, Franz von Suppé, Johann Strauss Jr., Carl Millöcker and Carl Zeller. Though he composed in many forms, he is best known for his nearly 30 operettas, of which the most successful has been The Merry Widow (Die lustige Witwe). Lehár was also an accomplished composer of waltzes, the most played being Gold und Silber (Gold and Silver)
Recommended Recordings
Die lustige Witwe "The Merry Widow" (opera)
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Die lustige Witwe (1905)/EMI CDS747178-2 or 7243-567367-2
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Elisabeth Schwarzkopf (soprano), Doreen Murray (soprano), Eilidh McNab (soprano), Hannelore Steffek (soprano), Nicolai Gedda (tenor), Kurt Equiluz (tenor), Hans Strohbauer (tenor), Eberhard Wächter (baritone), Josef Knapp (bass), Lovro von Matacic/Philharmonia Orchestra & Chorus
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Die lustige Witwe (1905)/Deutsche Grammophon 439911-2
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Barbara Bonney (soprano), Cheryl Studer (soprano), Bryn Terfel (baritone), Rainer Trost (baritone), Boje Skovhus (baritone), Karl Magnus Fredriksson (baritone), Uwe Peper (tenor), John Eliot Gardiner/Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra & Monteverdi Choir
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Die lustige Witwe (1905)/Denon DC-8103/4
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Dagmar Koller (soprano), Gabriele Juster (soprano), Hans Kraemmer (baritone), Helga Papouschek (soprano), Kurt Ruzicka (baritone), Mirjana Irosch (mezzo soprano), Peter Minich (tenor), Robert Granzer (baritone), Rudolf Wasserlof (tenor), Sonja Mottl (vocals), Wolfgang Kandutsch (Performer), Rudolf Bibl/Vienna Volksoper Orchestra & Chorus
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Die lustige Witwe (1905, Sung in English)/BBC Opus Arte DVD OA0836D
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Yvonne Kenny (soprano), Bo Skovhus (baritone), Angelika Kirchschlager (messo soprano), Gregory Turay (tenor), Erich Kunzel/San Francisco Opera Orchestra & Chorus