Franz Lehár (1870-1948)

[Ivan Ž.]

A wartime (1940) photo of the famous Austro-Hungarian composer.

Source: https://audiovis.nac.gov.pl/

[Ivan Ž.]

Lehár with one of his biggest fans - Adolf Hitler, on the occasion of the performance of "Die lustige Witwe" (The Merry Widow) in Berlin, Jan. 1939.

From https://www.bpk-bildagentur.de/

50049696.jpg (91.61 KiB) Viewed 2763 times

Aufführung Die lustige Witwe 12. Januar 1939; Berlin (Charlottenburg); Deutsches Opernhaus; Gruppenbild (im Profil in Frack; rechts Unbekannter); Hitler, Adolf [Politiker 1889-1945]; Funk, Walther [Minister 1890-1960]; Lehár, Franz [Komponist 1870-1948]. Fotograf: Heinrich Hoffmann.

From https://www.derstandard.at/story/200008 ... nisten-von

Franz Lehár in der NS-Zeit, ein eigenes Kapitel: Während die Namen der jüdischen Librettisten aus den Programmheften verschwanden, hofierten ihn die Nationalsozialisten als Großmeister der Operette. Eine im Bestand des Ischler Stadtmuseums erhaltene Fotografie zeigt den Komponisten im Smalltalk mit Adolf Hitler.

[Ivan Ž.]

A funny memory that Hitler told his secretary Traudl Junge, mentioning the same operetta (from Until the Final Hour, New York, 2004, p. 81):

'When I was still going to official festival performances of opera I usually had to keep an eye on the men with me to see they didn't go to sleep. Hoffmann [Heinrich, the press photographer] once almost fell over the balustrade of the box during Tristan and Isolde, and I had to rouse Schaub and tell him to go over and shake Hoffmann awake. Brückner was sitting behind me snoring, it was terrible. But no one went to sleep during The Merry Widow because there was a ballet in it.'

By the way, Schaub, mentioned in the text, is Hitler's adjutant Julius Schaub - who is seen in the background of the last posted photo. Brückner is Wilhelm Brückner, another adjutant of Hitler's.

[Ivan Ž.]

Another photo of Hitler in cordial conversation with Lehár.

From https://www.gettyimages.com/

Germany, Politics: annual conference of the 'Reichskulturkammer' and 'NS-Gemeinschaft `Kraft durch Freude (KdF)' at 'Berliner Philharmonie': Adolf Hitler in conversation with composer Franz Lehar - 27.11.1936. Published by 'Berliner Allgemeine Zeitung' 28.11.1936. Photographer: Heinrich Hoffmann.

[Ivan Ž.]

A grand (wartime) photo report on the composer.

From Berliner Illustrierte Zeitung, 05.06.1941, pp. 623-624