April 30, 1870:
22:00 Franz Christian Lehár is born on Palatine Street in Komárom, Kingdom of Hungary (Komárno, Slovakia), first of seven children (five surviving infancy) born to Franz Lehár, horn player and bandmaster in the Habsburg army, and Christine Neubrandt, daughter of a soap boiler. (The house no longer stands. Lehár Park now marks the spot.)
July 12, 1888:
At a concert and ceremony for the Prague Academy of Music in the Rudolfinum concert hall, Franz Lehár (18) receives a leaving certificate. This week he will sign his first professional contract, to play violin in Barmen-Elberfeld in the Rheinland.
October 11, 1890:
Franz Lehár (20) conducts his first concert as bandmaster with the 25th Infantry Regiment in Losoncz, Hungary.
May 10, 1891:
Groß-Wien op.440, a waltz for male chorus and orchestra by Johann Strauss (63), is performed for the first time, in the Sängerhalle im Prater, Vienna. It comes at the end of a massive program honoring Strauss by musicians from all over Austria-Hungary. Finally, a large wreath is brought on stage by two regimental bandmasters. One of them is Franz Lehár (21). It is the only time that Strauss and Lehár will stand face to face.
February 28, 1894:
Having resigned his commission, Franz Lehár (23) boards a train in Losoncz, Hungary for Sarajevo. Half the regiment, including his band, turn out for the farewell.
November 27, 1896:
Kukuschka, an opera by Franz Lehár (26) to words of Falzari, is performed for the first time, in the Stadttheater, Leipzig.
November 1, 1899:
Franz Lehár (29) arrives in Vienna “to make a name for myself.”
January 27, 1902:
Gold und Silber, a waltz by Franz Lehár (31), is performed for the first time, at the Gold and Silver Ball in the Sophiensäle, Vienna.
July 1, 1902:
Franz Lehár (32) enters upon duties as musical director of Theater-an-der-Wien.
November 21, 1902:
Wiener Frauen, an opera by Franz Lehár (32) to words of Tann-Bergler and Norini, is performed for the first time, in Theater an der Wien, Vienna. It is his first great success, with 69 performances in Vienna alone.
December 20, 1902:
Der Rastelbinder, an operetta by Franz Lehár (32) to words of Léon, is performed for the first time, in the Carltheater, Vienna. The public is ecstatic, the critics tepid.
June 20, 1904:
Der Göttergatte, an operetta by Franz Lehár (34) to words of Léon and Stein, is performed for the first time, in the Carltheater, Vienna.
December 22, 1904:
Die Juxheirat, an operetta by Franz Lehár (34) to words of Bauer, is performed for the first time, in Theater an der Wien, Vienna. It is not successful.
December 30, 1905:
Die lustige Witwe (The Merry Widow), an operetta by Franz Lehár (35) to words of Léon and Stein after Meilhac, is performed for the first time, in Theater an der Wien, Vienna. It is a moderate success. Once the music is played throughout the city in garden and café concerts, it will achieve a wild success. It will run for years in Vienna and see productions throughout the world.
October 20, 1906:
Der Schüssel zum Paradies, an operetta by Franz Lehár (36) to words of Norini and Horst, is performed for the first time, in the Stadttheater, Leipzig.
December 1, 1906:
Peter und Paul reisen ins Schlaraffenland, a Zaubermärchen by Franz Lehár (36) to words of Grünbaum and Bodanzky, is performed for the first time, in Theater an der Wien, Vienna.
January 5, 1907:
Mitislaw der Moderne, an operetta by Franz Lehár (36) to words of Grünbaum and Bodanzky, is performed for the first time, in Die Hölle, Vienna.
June 7, 1907:
An English production of The Merry Widow by Franz Lehár (37) goes on at the Gaiety Theatre. It is a success of incalculable proportions.
January 21, 1908:
Der Mann mit den drei Frauen, an operetta by Franz Lehár (37) to words of Bauer, is performed for the first time, in Theater an der Wien, Vienna.
October 7, 1909:
Das Fürstenkind, an operetta by Franz Lehár (39) to words of Léon after About, is performed for the first time, in the Johann Strauss Theater, Vienna.
November 12, 1909:
Der Graf von Luxemburg, an operetta by Franz Lehár (39) to words of Willner and Bodanzky, is performed for the first time, in Theater an der Wien, Vienna.
January 8, 1910:
Zigeunerliebe, a romantische Operette by Franz Lehár (39) to words of Willner and Bodanzky, is performed for the first time, in the Carl Theater, Vienna. Lehár has produced three operettas in as many months.
November 24, 1911:
Eva, an operetta by Franz Lehár (41) to words of Willner and Bodanzky, is performed for the first time, in Theater an der Wien, Vienna.
December 1, 1912:
Rosenstock und Edelweiss, a Singspiel by Franz Lehár (42) to words of Bauer, is performed for the first time, in Die Hölle, Vienna.
January 30, 1914:
Endlich allein, an operetta by Franz Lehár (43) to words of Willner and Bodanzky, is performed for the first time, in Theater an der Wien, Vienna.
January 14, 1916:
Der Sterngucker, an operetta by Franz Lehár (45) to words of Löhner, is performed for the first time, in the Theater in der Josefstadt, Vienna.
January 1, 1918:
The Lark, an operetta by Franz Lehár (47) to words of Martos, is performed for the first time, in Budapest.
May 28, 1920:
Die blaue Mazur an operetta by Franz Lehár (50) to words of Stein and Jenbach, is performed for the first time, in Theater an der Wien, Vienna.
January 20, 1922:
Frühling, a Singspiel by Franz Lehár (51) to words of Eger, is performed for the first time, in Die Hölle, Vienna.
May 12, 1922:
Frasquita, an operetta by Franz Lehár (52) to words of Willner and Reichert, is performed for the first time, in Theater an der Wien, Vienna.
February 9, 1923:
Die gelbe Jacke, an operetta by Franz Lehár (52) to words of Léon, is performed for the first time, in Theater an der Wien, Vienna. See 10 October 1929.
March 8, 1924:
Cloclo, an operetta by Franz Lehár (53) to words of Jenbach, is performed for the first time, in the Bürgertheater, Vienna.
October 30, 1925:
Paganini, an operetta by Franz Lehár (54) to words of Knepler and Jenbach, is performed for the first time, in Johann Strauss-Theater, Vienna, conducted by the composer. The response is bland. See 30 January 1926.
January 30, 1926:
Franz Lehár’s (55) operetta Paganini is produced at the Deutsches Künstlertheater in Berlin. Unlike his experience in Vienna, it is a tumultuous success. See 30 October 1925.
February 21, 1927:
Der Zarewitsch, an operetta by Franz Lehár (56) to words of Jenbach and Reichert after Zapolska, is performed for the first time, in the Deutsches Künstlertheater, Berlin.
October 4, 1928:
Friederike, a Singspiel by Franz Lehár (58) to words of Herzer and Löhner, is performed for the first time, in the Metropol-Theater, Berlin.
October 10, 1929:
Das Land des Lächelns, a romantische Operette by Franz Lehár (59), to words of Herzer and Löhner after Léon, is performed for the first time, in the Metropol-Theater, Berlin. It is a reworking of Die gelbe Jacke. See 9 February 1923.
April 30, 1930:
Between 20:00 and 21:00, on all radio stations, in all concert halls, cafes, and nightclubs in Germany, only the music of Franz Lehár is heard. It is a celebration of the sixtieth birthday of the composer, organized by the Deutsche Kappellmeister-Union.
January 20, 1934:
Giuditta, a musikalische Komödie by Franz Lehár (63) to words of Knepler and Löhner, is performed for the first time, in the Staatsoper, Vienna.
April 30, 1940:
The City of Vienna awards the Ring of Honor to Franz Lehár on his 70th birthday.
February 22, 1943:
Suffering from severe kidney pains, Franz Lehár (72) is rushed from Budapest to Vienna for treatment.
October 24, 1948:
14:45 Franz Christian Lehár dies at his villa at Traunquai 8 (Lehárkai 8) in Bad Ischl, Republic of Austria, suffering from cancer, pneumonia, ulcers, and heart disease, aged 78 years, five months, and 24 days.
October 30, 1948:
The mortal remains of Franz Lehár are laid to rest in the cemetery of Bad Ischl.