The Land of Smiles
Beginning on 15 November 1932 Franz Lehár's "The Land of Smiles" was first performed in France. It was given in a French adaptation by André Mauprey and Jean Marietti with the title "Le pays du sourire". The Dutch tenor Willy Thunis, who did not speak a word of French, sang Sou-Chong. The production received its 1,000th performance on 17 April 1939.