Austro-Hungarian composer Franz Lehár (1870-1948) secured his fame with the operetta The Merry Widow as well as prominence in the Silver Age of Operetta. Many of his comedy works including The Count of Luxemburg, Paganini, Der Zarewitsch, and Das Land des Lächelns continue to be performed.

Der Sterngucker was composed in 1916 and premiered at the Theater in der Josefstadt in Vienna.

The story is set in Vienna. Franz, a young astronomer, raised his sister Kitty after their parents'death. His visit to her finishing school is eagerly awaited by Kitty and her three closest friends. They all flirt with him, until he appears to be engaged to all three, one of whom is ready enough to renounce her previous admirer, Paul, who anyway has fallen for Kitty. Complications set in when Franz'financial state is queried by a detective acting on behalf of three sets of parents simultaneously, and it takes a generous helping of "feminine wiles" to bring the stargazer down to earth - and to the altar.

The name Lehár also found great fame in the band world by the huge success of The Merry Widow.
He left many fun works from his operettas, both to listen to and to perform. I found this "stargazer" when looking for a masterpiece that had not adapted to band.
We hope you enjoy listening to the various styles such as lyrical songs, nimble waltzes, and marches.

(Hiroki Takahashi)