As a composer Lehár started with contributions to the opera-genre but the great triumph of his first operetta 'Die lustige Witwe', (The merry widow), in 1905 made him clear that he had to give his talents to the operetta.

Lehár originally did not include an overture in 'Die lustige Witwe'. However, he subsequently rewrote the original finale of the first act into a three-part concert waltz, 'Ballsirenen'. Dutch arranger Andre Bodin transcribed 'Ballsirenen' for Symphonic Band.