Franz Lehár

Franz Lehár was an Austro-Hungarian composer celebrated for his operettas, such as 'The Merry Widow'. Born in Komárom, he was the eldest son of a Hungarian bandmaster. Lehár grew up speaking Hungarian and later studied violin and composition. Though he served as bandmaster in the Austro-Hungarian Army and navy, he ultimately focused on composition, with operettas that remain beloved standards. He also faced complex circumstances during the Nazi regime, due to his and his wife's backgrounds. Lehár died in 1948 in Bad Ischl.