Fascinating as an example of earlier performance practice surely? Would anyone today dare pull rhythms around so wildly? Not sure if this over-sentimentalises the material but clearly this is how He felt this very famous music. Many thanks for this invaluable upload. Craig
Franz Lehar plays The Merry Widow Waltz (Lustige Witwe) - Piano Roll Uploaded on 14 Jun 2010 Duo-Art (live) recording, piano: the composer himself, Franz Lehár. Overall this playing is so exceptional in its ability to transport the listener back to early twentieth century Vienna. Note especially the very particular facility Lehar had at producing elegant, lilting rhythms. Lippen schweigen, 's flüstern Geigen Hab mich lieb! All die Schritte sagen bitte, hab mich lieb! Jeder Druck der Hände deutlich mir's beschrieb Er sagt klar, 's ist wahr, 's ist wahr, Du hast mich lieb! ------------------------------------- The Merry Widow (Die lustige Witwe) is an operetta by the Austro-Hungarian composer Franz Lehar. The librettists, Viktor Léon and Leo Stein, based the story - concerning a rich widow, and her countrymen's attempt to keep her money in the principality by finding her the right husband - on an 1861 comedy play, L'attaché d'ambassade (The Embassy Attaché) by Henri Meilhac. The operetta has enjoyed extraordinary international success since its 1905 premiere in Vienna and continues to be frequently revived. Well-known music from the score includes the "Vilja Song", "Da geh' ich zu Maxim" ("You'll Find Me at Maxim's"), and the "Merry Widow Waltz" ("Lippen schweigen" - "I Love You So" - "Ballsirenen")... It was Lehár's first major success, becoming internationally the best-known operetta of its era. imslp.org/wiki/Die_lustige_Wit... ------------------------------------- Franz Lehár - Klaviersonate in d-moll: www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQDToF... ------------------------------------- Category Music Licence Standard TH-cam Licence
That I can hear Lehar playing his own music makes me believe in miracles and other wonders.
So much energy and charm in this version. Like a tipsy friend at midnight in your parlor.
Finally, Lehar playing his own compositions.
Loved him playing his own creation as he wished!!!
How he captures the wistful, lilting, playful dynamic rhythm of this fantastic dance of a merry sprite.
Love it!
I have heard Merry Widow Waltz many many times, but this is the first time I hear this piano version. Quite interesting.
Thank you for uploading this arrangement by Lehar himself
Brilliant
truly variation on that theme, beautiful work, sometime it is better to hear this than to go back the full opera...
Fascinating as an example of earlier performance practice surely? Would anyone today dare pull rhythms around so wildly? Not sure if this over-sentimentalises the material but clearly this is how He felt this very famous music. Many thanks for this invaluable upload. Craig
The very essence of mittel european culture
It certainly wasn’t going to be much fun dancing the circular walz to.
Franz Lehar plays The Merry Widow Waltz (Lustige Witwe) - Piano Roll
Uploaded on 14 Jun 2010
Duo-Art (live) recording, piano: the composer himself, Franz Lehár.
Overall this playing is so exceptional in its ability to transport the listener back to early twentieth century Vienna. Note especially the very particular facility Lehar had at producing elegant, lilting rhythms.
Lippen schweigen, 's flüstern Geigen
Hab mich lieb!
All die Schritte sagen bitte, hab mich lieb!
Jeder Druck der Hände
deutlich mir's beschrieb
Er sagt klar, 's ist wahr, 's ist wahr,
Du hast mich lieb!
-------------------------------------
The Merry Widow (Die lustige Witwe) is an operetta by the Austro-Hungarian composer Franz Lehar. The librettists, Viktor Léon and Leo Stein, based the story - concerning a rich widow, and her countrymen's attempt to keep her money in the principality by finding her the right husband - on an 1861 comedy play, L'attaché d'ambassade (The Embassy Attaché) by Henri Meilhac. The operetta has enjoyed extraordinary international success since its 1905 premiere in Vienna and continues to be frequently revived.
Well-known music from the score includes the "Vilja Song", "Da geh' ich zu Maxim" ("You'll Find Me at Maxim's"), and the "Merry Widow Waltz" ("Lippen schweigen" - "I Love You So" - "Ballsirenen")...
It was Lehár's first major success, becoming internationally the best-known operetta of its era.
imslp.org/wiki/Die_lustige_Wit...
-------------------------------------
Franz Lehár - Klaviersonate in d-moll: www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQDToF...
-------------------------------------
Category
Music
Licence
Standard TH-cam Licence
It is called the Viennese waltz rhythm
Very interesting! Please note, however: This is not the Merry Widow Waltz, but a selection of the best waltzes from the operetta of that name.
Rodney Rawlings I see that it is only the title of the video that is wrong. The description is right.
search at imslp.org "Die lustige Witwe (Lehár, Franz), arrangements for piano solo"
it is the viennanese rythym.
The Merry Widow ala Gershwin.