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 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. butterflies_die_lustige_witwe
Lehar – Highlights from Die Lustige Witwe (The Merry Widow) When The Merry Widow traveled from Vienna to
: Most modern productions use the original Viennese score, which doesn't include the "London interpolations". While you likely won't hear about these "Butterflies,"
While songs like the "Vilja Song" became immortal, "Butterflies" largely vanished after the original London and Broadway runs.
: You can still find the English-language version of the song in certain highlights scores .
Enter a musical "lost treasure" that owes its existence to the bustling theaters of Edwardian London. A Song for the "Gaiety Girls"