Franz Lehar (1870-1948) - bandmaster; march, operetta and film composer, representative of the heartbeat of his capital city. More than a half century gone, with contemporaries like Ravel and Bartok, Lehar was nonetheless firmly rooted in the Romantic retrospect of Vienna. His music was populist and lyrical, such as this "love comedy" about a bank widow's adventures. From it, melodies like the beautiful ballad "Song for Vilia" and "Merry Widow Waltz" have found their own fame.

Instrumentation...