Various - Emmerich K�lm�n: Kaiserin Josephine

Michael Lakner selected an absolute operetta rarity for a premiere during his last season as the director of the Leh�r Festival in 2017: Kaiserin Josephine (Empress Josephine) by Emmerich K�lm�n. His daughter Yvonne K�lm�n had to flee to the United States with her Jewish father. In New York Emmerich K�lm�n fought for a performance of his Josephine at the Metropolitan Opera and even found just the right female protagonist for this operetta. Her death in an accident also ended K�lm�n�s hopes for its premiere at the Met because no other female vocalist wanted to support this work. It was thus that a masterpiece fell into oblivion. The conductor Marius Burkert has stated, �With its seriousness, depth, and melancholy, K�lm�n�s music is something very special for me,� and we have him to thank for transforming this music into something very special for listening audiences.