https://www.scmp.com/rss/522648/feed The latest news and top stories on Franz Lehár. Known as a prominent Austro-Hungarian composer, he is celebrated for his operettas, most notably 'The Merry Widow', which achieved worldwide success and revitalised the Viennese operetta genre. His career included roles as a military bandmaster and opera conductor. Lehár's expertise extended to composing popular waltzes and marches, such as the 'Gold and Silver Waltz'. He also wrote other successful operettas including 'The Land of Smiles' and 'The... en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Christopher Halls Christopher Halls Even without the flutes of bubbly normally featured in Viennese operettas, there are plenty of good reasons the 150-year-old musical genre is dubbed “champagne opera”. The effervescent delight of the songs, dance, intrigue and lighthearted shenanigans is timeless. But for the 19th-century art form to still hit the spot, it has to sparkle with spontaneity while preserving its classical soul. Opera Hong Kong’s semi-staged presentation of Franz Lehár’s The Merry Widow made for a fun night out –... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3322232/opera-hong-kongs-merry-widow-entertains-fails-capture-soul-original?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3322232/opera-hong-kongs-merry-widow-entertains-fails-capture-soul-original?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 18 Aug 2025 10:15:08 +0000 Sumnima Kandangwa Sumnima Kandangwa Opera Hong Kong is set to bring a treat to the city’s classical music scene this summer with two performances of Austro-Hungarian composer Franz Lehár’s beloved operetta, The Merry Widow, at City Hall on August 15 and 16. For those intimidated by or unfamiliar with the art form, an operetta offers an inviting first step: short, humorous and more conversational in music and story than capital-O opera. Based on an 1861 French comic play, L’attaché d’ambassade, by Henri Meilhac, The Merry Widow has... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3321208/opera-hong-kong-brings-merry-widow-stage?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3321208/opera-hong-kong-brings-merry-widow-stage?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 08 Aug 2025 08:09:37 +0000