Librettist, Playwright. A key figure in the "Silver Age" of Viennese operetta. He co-wrote the books for Franz Lehar's first great hit, "The Merry Widow" (1905), and for Lehar's last, "The Land of Smiles" (1929). Born Viktor Hirschfeld in Vienna, he was a journalist before embarking on a theatre career in 1878, later taking up the pseudonym Victor Léon. He often collaborated with author Leo Stein, and their adapted text for "The Merry Widow" was a significant improvement over the original, an unsuccessful French farce. Its sophistication ushered in a new era for the light opera genre. In all he wrote or contributed to 75 operetta librettos, including the classics "The Opera Ball" (1898) by Richard Heuberger, "Wiener Blut" (1899) by Johann Strauss, Jr., and Leo Fall's "The Merry Farmer" (1908). His most successful solo work, the play "The Yellow Jacket" (1923), provided the basis for "The Land of Smiles." An alley in Vienna is named (Viktor) for him.
Librettist, Playwright. A key figure in the "Silver Age" of Viennese operetta. He co-wrote the books for Franz Lehar's first great hit, "The Merry Widow" (1905), and for Lehar's last, "The Land of Smiles" (1929). Born Viktor Hirschfeld in Vienna, he was a journalist before embarking on a theatre career in 1878, later taking up the pseudonym Victor Léon. He often collaborated with author Leo Stein, and their adapted text for "The Merry Widow" was a significant improvement over the original, an unsuccessful French farce. Its sophistication ushered in a new era for the light opera genre. In all he wrote or contributed to 75 operetta librettos, including the classics "The Opera Ball" (1898) by Richard Heuberger, "Wiener Blut" (1899) by Johann Strauss, Jr., and Leo Fall's "The Merry Farmer" (1908). His most successful solo work, the play "The Yellow Jacket" (1923), provided the basis for "The Land of Smiles." An alley in Vienna is named (Viktor) for him.
Bio by: Bobb Edwards
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VICTOR LÉON
GEST.23.2.1940
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