Butterflies_die_lustige_witwe File

If you’ve ever hummed the "Merry Widow Waltz" or felt the urge to dance to "You'll Find Me at Maxim's," you know that Franz Lehár’s Die lustige Witwe ( The Merry Widow ) is the undisputed crown jewel of Viennese operetta. But did you know that one of its original hits is almost never heard today?

The Song the World Forgot: The Curious Case of “Butterflies”

: Most modern productions use the original Viennese score, which doesn't include the "London interpolations". butterflies_die_lustige_witwe

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.

Lehar – Highlights from Die Lustige Witwe (The Merry Widow) If you’ve ever hummed the "Merry Widow Waltz"

: Because it was written specifically for the English version, it never quite "fit" back into the German Die lustige Witwe libretto. Where to Find It Today If you're a completist, you aren't totally out of luck.

: You can still find the English-language version of the song in certain highlights scores . When The Merry Widow traveled from Vienna to

One of those additions was It wasn't written for the lead, Hanna Glawari, but for a "grisette"—one of the high-kicking, decorative dancers who represent the bohemian spirit of Paris. In the 1907 production at Daly's Theatre, it featured Mabel Russell and served as a high-energy dance number that helped the show rack up a staggering 778 performances. Why You Haven't Heard It