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Back to the Lyme Regis Operatic Society home page Go to the past productions main page where each years show details can be found, pictures, synopses, etc. Visit the Lyme Regis Operatic Society history page Contact information for the society, phone, email, post An archive of press releases for Lyme Regis Operatic Society Links to useful sites - links used with permission

Franz Lehár

Short Biography

Franz Lehár was born in Hungary on 30th April 1870. As a boy, he moved around with his father who was a military bandmaster assigned to many countries in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Young Lehár constantly heard the music his father's band played, Suppe overtures, medleys from Italian operas, Strauss waltzes and polkas; but he was also assimilating the folk music and characteristics of the music he heard in Hungary, Transylvania, Prague, Sarajevo and Vienna. This all becomes evident in 'The Merry Widow'. 'Vilia' owes much to German folklore, the mazurka in act one and the polonaise in act two are characteristic of the traditional music of Poland and, of course, the melodious phrases of the waltzes are typically Viennese. He was captivated by the romanticism of Puccini, which is reflected in the lyricism and beauty of his love songs, many of which were written for Richard Tauber. Lehár died in 1948.