Franz Lehár Orchestra
The Franz Lehár-Orchester was founded in 1945 by Eduard Macku as a Viennese concert orchestra . After a successful tour of America, the Lehár family awarded the orchestra the honorary title of Franz Lehár Orchestra .
history
In 1961, Macku founded the “Operetta Festival Bad Ischl” - today's Lehár Festival Bad Ischl - and made the Franz Lehár Orchestra an integral part of this festival. After Macku's death, Gabriel Patocs took over the management of the orchestra in Vienna, while Walter Erla was entrusted with it in Bad Ischl .
During the artistic directorship of Martin C. Turba (2000-2003) and Michael Lakner (2004 until today) the Franz Lehár Orchestra in Bad Ischl played under the conductors Franz Bauer-Theussl , Herbert Mogg , Alfred Eschwé , Wolfgang Bozic , Marius Burkert , Vinzenz Praxmarer and Oliver Ostermann. At the turn of the year 2011/12, the “Chinese Cultural Association in Austria” engaged the orchestra for a tour of China. Subsequently, the orchestra performed at the Chinese New Year's Concert 2012 and the European debut of the Chinese soprano Ma Yiming. Both concerts took place in the Golden Hall of the Wiener Musikverein.
In 2012 Herbert Prikopa became aware of the orchestra and engaged it for the new Oscar Straus singing competition in Vienna.
Act
The maintenance and preservation of Viennese music and Viennese musical life is the central task of the Franz Lehár Orchestra. In addition to the music of its namesake Franz Lehár , the works of Joseph Lanner , Johann Strauss , Josef Strauss , Franz von Suppè , Carl Millöcker and Emmerich Kálmán form the supporting pillars of the repertoire, which is reflected in the programs of the traditional Sunday afternoon concerts in the Vienna Konzerthaus and in the Ehrbar- Hall in Vienna-Wieden reflects.
During the summer months, the Franz Lehár Orchestra is part of the Lehár Festival Bad Ischl as a theater orchestra. There were CD recordings of the works shown, a. a. Frasquita by Franz Lehár, Fatinitza by Franz von Suppè and Der fidele Bauer by Leo Fall . The CD production of the operetta Eva under Wolfgang Bozic received the "Prize of the German Record Critics 2006".
In addition to its concert activities, the Franz Lehár Orchestra has been an integral part of the Vienna ball season since the early 1970s .