The Land of Smiles

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Operettas by Franz Lehár

The Merry Widow (1905)
Der Graf von Luxemburg (1909)
Der Zarewitsch (1927)
The Land of Smiles (1929)
Giuditta (1934)
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The Land of Smiles (Das Land des Lächelns) is a 'romantic' operetta in three acts by Franz Lehár. The German libretto was by Ludwig Herzer and Fritz Löhner.

This was one of Lehár's later works, and has a bittersweet ending which the Viennese loved. The title refers to the Chinese custom of smiling, whatever happens in life. (The leading character, Prince Sou-Chong has a song early in the show, Immer nur lächeln (Always smiling) which describes this.)

Contents

[edit] The Tauberlied

Lavishly produced, the show was built largely around the performance of the tenor Richard Tauber, a close friend of Lehár's, for whom he customarily wrote a 'Tauberlied'—a signature tune exploiting the exceptional qualities of his voice—in each of the operettas. On this occasion it was 'Dein ist mein ganzes Herz' (You are my heart's delight), probably the most famous of all the Tauberlieder. Tauber also appeared in the show in London, singing countless encores of his song.

[edit] Performance history

The work was originally produced under the title Die gelbe Jacke (The Yellow Jacket). This was presented at the Theatre an der Wien, Vienna on 9 February 1923. It was not a great success, and Lehár later revised it, under the new title of Das Land des Lächelns, which was first performed, at the Metropol Theatre, Berlin, on 10 October 1929. Tauber reprised his role in London (1931) and New York (1946) and again in Vienna in 1930 (again at the Theatre an der Wien) and in 1938 (at the Vienna State Opera).

Sadler's Wells Opera produced it in London in the late 1950s, after the success of Lehár's The Merry Widow starring June Bronhill had rescued the company from bankruptcy. Starring Charles Craig, Elizabeth Fretwell and Bronhill, the show didn't attract the same audiences as The Merry Widow. However, Craig's singing on a recording is outstanding, with some top D♭ notes at the end of his big numbers.

[edit] Roles

Role Voice type Premiere Cast,
October 10, 1929
(Conductor: — )
Prince Sou-Chong tenor Richard Tauber
Lisa soprano Vera Schwarz
Count Gustav von Pottenstein tenor Willi Stettner
Lore mezzo-soprano
Mi soprano Hella Kurty
Tschang baritone

[edit] Synopsis

The operetta is set in Vienna and China. The heroine Lisa is a Viennese girl who marries a Chinese prince and returns with him to his homeland despite the warnings of her friends and family, but eventually finds she is unable to come to terms with his native culture. Prince Sou-Chong is left alone, while his beloved Lisa returns to her homeland. His sister, Princess Mi had also become attached to the Viennese official, Gustl and so the ending is doubly sad.

[edit] Recordings

Lehár: Das Land des Lächelns — Munich Radio Symphony Orchestra

Franz Lehár Conducts Richard Tauber — Berlin State Opera Orchestra

  • Conductor: Franz Lehar et al
  • Principle singers: Richard Tauber (Sou-Chong), Vera Schwarz (Lisa)
  • Recording date: 1929-1931 (6 tracks)
  • Label: Pearl — (CD)

[edit] Sources

Land des Lächelns, Das by Andrew Lamb, in 'The New Grove Dictionary of Opera', ed. Stanley Sadie (London, 1992) ISBN 0-333-73432-7

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