The Count of Luxembourg

René, Count of Luxembourg, is not only a passionate bohemian, but also an incorrigible hothead who squanders his ancestors' money in the whirlpools of amusement with gambling and light ladies („So liri, liri, lari, das ganze Moos ging tschari!“ | "So liri, liri, lari, the whole moss went chari!"). An immoral but highly lucrative offer tempts him to help him out of his predicament. Prince Basil Basilovich needs his help to solve the following dilemma: He has fallen madly in love with the singer Angèle Didier, but she does not possess the necessary title of nobility to make the union worthy of her rank. For a considerable fee, René is supposed to get her this title in a three-month marriage of convenience. The condition, however, is that he must never set eyes on the ravishing Angèle. Of course, things turn out differently and complications are inevitable („Bist du’s, lachendes Glück?“ | "Is that you, laughing happiness?").

 

Mit seinem Meisterwerk der späten Wiener Operette voller mitreißender Melodien, Tempo und Witz gelang es Franz Lehár, 1909 an den sensationellen Erfolg der Lustigen Witwe anzuschließen.