The Song the World Forgot: The Curious Case of “Butterflies”
Lehar – Highlights from Die Lustige Witwe (The Merry Widow)
The next time you see a production of The Merry Widow , keep an ear out. While you likely won't hear about these "Butterflies," they remain a fascinating footnote in how a Viennese classic became a global fashion and musical phenomenon.
While songs like the "Vilja Song" became immortal, "Butterflies" largely vanished after the original London and Broadway runs.
: While many conductors ignore it, some archival-style recordings, such as the one featuring Joan Sutherland, include "Butterflies" as a nod to its historical success.
If you’ve ever hummed the "Merry Widow Waltz" or felt the urge to dance to "You'll Find Me at Maxim's," you know that Franz Lehár’s Die lustige Witwe ( The Merry Widow ) is the undisputed crown jewel of Viennese operetta. But did you know that one of its original hits is almost never heard today?
When The Merry Widow traveled from Vienna to London in 1907, producer George Edwardes knew he needed to spice things up for the British audience. He didn't just translate the script; he convinced Lehár himself to write brand-new music specifically for the London stage.
The Song the World Forgot: The Curious Case of “Butterflies”
Lehar – Highlights from Die Lustige Witwe (The Merry Widow) butterflies_die_lustige_witwe
The next time you see a production of The Merry Widow , keep an ear out. While you likely won't hear about these "Butterflies," they remain a fascinating footnote in how a Viennese classic became a global fashion and musical phenomenon. The Song the World Forgot: The Curious Case
While songs like the "Vilja Song" became immortal, "Butterflies" largely vanished after the original London and Broadway runs. : While many conductors ignore it, some archival-style
: While many conductors ignore it, some archival-style recordings, such as the one featuring Joan Sutherland, include "Butterflies" as a nod to its historical success.
If you’ve ever hummed the "Merry Widow Waltz" or felt the urge to dance to "You'll Find Me at Maxim's," you know that Franz Lehár’s Die lustige Witwe ( The Merry Widow ) is the undisputed crown jewel of Viennese operetta. But did you know that one of its original hits is almost never heard today?
When The Merry Widow traveled from Vienna to London in 1907, producer George Edwardes knew he needed to spice things up for the British audience. He didn't just translate the script; he convinced Lehár himself to write brand-new music specifically for the London stage.