DVD + Blu-Ray:
Lehár – Das Land des Lächelns

With Lehár’s masterpiece in a star-studded production from the Opernhaus Zürich, Accentus Music presents its first operetta release on DVD and Blu-ray.

“Always smile and always be cheerful, always satisfied, no matter what happens, smile in spite of your sorrows and a thousand aches and pains,” sings Prince Sou-Chong, thus introducing the fundamentally melancholic tone of “Das Land des Lächelns” (The Land of Smiles), which even has a tragic ending in store.

For the new production of this operetta, world-class tenor Piotr Beczala returned to the Opernhaus Zürich as Sou-Chong. He has an equal partner in Julia Kleiter, who plays the role of Lisa. Fabio Luisi and Andreas Homoki also know that the genre of operetta requires particular care – which is why they have assumed personal responsibility for this production.

Homoki lets the plot take place in a Paris Variété theater from the 1920s, complete with show staircase and heavy curtains. To emphasize the operatic elements, he condensed the piece, cutting several secondary roles and shortening dialogues.

Piotr Beczala, Prince Sou-Chong
Julia Kleiter, Lisa
Rebeca Olvera, Mi
Spencer Lang, Count Gustav v. Pottenstein
Cheyne Davidson, Tschang
Martin Zysset, Chief Eunuch

Fabio Luisi, musical direction
Andreas Homoki, stage director
Klaus Grünberg, set and lighting designer
Silke Willrett, costume design
Kathrin Brunner, dramaturgy

Philharmonia Zürich
Chor der Oper Zürich

Recorded at the Opernhaus Zürich, June 2017
A production of Accentus Music in co-production with ZDF and in co-operation with Arte and Opernhaus Zürich.

Released worldwide in June 2018
ACC20435 (DVD)
ACC10435 (BD)

Production Company Accentus Music GmbH
Co-Production Company ZDF
Assoc. Prod. Company Arte
Assoc. Producer Opernhaus Zürich