Travel tips for opera lovers – Lehar and Vienna

Lehár in Vienna

The series about historical places of opera art & culture. Get to know exciting excursion and travel ideas for opera lovers. This time: Lehár in Vienna

All Destinations on google maps with links to detailed Blogposts:

Lehár in Vienna

Born in Hungary, Lehár, like his father, worked as a regimental bandmaster in his younger years, which took him throughout the Austro-Hungarian Empire, in 1902, at the age of 32, he moved to Vienna, where he settled down and tried his hand at composing operettas. Finally, in 1902, at the age of 32, he moved to Vienna, where he settled down and tried his hand at composing operettas.

After only three years, he succeeded with “The Merry Widow,” which was Franz Lehár’s fifth operetta, and its success surpassed anything that had ever existed in the genre. During his lifetime, the piece was performed 300,000 times worldwide, and to this day it remains one of the most popular operettas. Lehár was the main person responsible for the renewed flourishing of the Viennese operetta, which achieved world renown.

Lehár’s popularity began to wane in the 1920s, but his artistic partnership with the famous tenor Richard Tauber brought about a revival in the 20/30s, and he also lived in Berlin for a time. He bought an estate in Bad Ischl and split the residence with Vienna.

Lehár did not want to emigrate in his advanced age and his role in the World War was rather saddening. He died somewhat forgotten in Bad Ischl in 1948.

To the travel guide VIENNA for classic and opera fans

Destination Theater an der Wien, premiere venue of the “Merry Widow”

This theater, rich in tradition, was already the premiere venue of Mozart’s Magic Flute. In 1901, the Hungarian-born Wilhelm Karzcag leased the Theater an der Wien to make it the center of a new Viennese operetta. Lehàr was able to celebrate his first success there in 1902 with “Wiener Fraun”. For the 1905/06 season, Victor Léon and Leo Stein wrote the libretto of “The Merry Widow” but were not satisfied with the music of the commissioned composer and offered Lehàr the job. Lehàr accepted and set to work. Because an operetta had flopped, Karzcag was determined to bring the Merry Widow forward. He had the music played for him in Lehár’s apartment. Disgusted by Lehár’s product, he is said to have exclaimed the famous sentence: “That’s not music!” Stein and Léon, however, were able to convince him otherwise, and the work was staged head over heels. All the stage material was cobbled together from existing productions and the musicians could only be allowed a few stage rehearsals. Despite a lot of improvisation, the premiere was already satisfactory and, to Karzcag’s surprise, audience reception was good from the start and the operetta quickly became a box office hit.

In 2006, the theater was renovated and serves as the third opera house of the city of Vienna.

Theater an der Wien:

https://www.theater-wien.at/en/home

Destination Café Sperl

Opened in 1880, this traditional coffee house was a meeting place for musicians and Lehár’s favorite café. It later also served several times as a film set.

Café Sperl:

https://www.cafesperl.at/

Destination Schikaneder-Lehár Schlössl (“little castle”)

Schikaneder, the librettist of the Magic Flute and theater entrepreneur of the Theater an der Wien, once lived in this house. It is located in the Heurigen village of Nussdorf. Lehàr bought the property in 1931 and lived there for a long time. He composed “Giuditta” there, among other works. There are memorabilia on display in the salon.  The Schlössl is privately owned and can only be visited by appointment. A memorial plaque commemorates the famous resident at Hackhofergasse 18.

Schikaneder-Lehár Schlössl:

Visit by appointment only

https://www.wien.info/de/orte/Lehár-schikaneder-schloessl

Destination Lehár Monument Stadtpark (City Park)

The monument is located in the city park near the Kursalon and was unveiled in 1980.

Lehár monument:

Destination  Lehár «Atelier» Theobaldgasse

Lehár’s study was located at number 16 from 1908. A memorial plaque commemorates this time.

Lehár’s study:

Musical excursion: The Merry Widow

In the link you will find access to a portrait of Lehar’s Merry Widow, if you feel like enjoying the many earworms of this opera:

https://opera-inside.com/die-lustige-witwe-by-franz-lehar-the-opera-guide-synopsis/