Das Land des Lächelns is a romantic operetta composed by Austrian composer Franz Lehár following his success with The Merry Widow. Premiered in 1929, the operetta tells the story of Lisa, the daughter of an Austrian count, who meets and falls in love with Prince Sou-Chong from China at a ball in Vienna. However, the prince’s obligations force him to return to his homeland. Lisa follows him to China but struggles to accept the tradition that allows the prince to have multiple wives, ultimately choosing to leave in sorrow. The aria ‘Dein ist mein ganzes Herz’ (You Are My Heart’s Delight) from the second act is the most celebrated piece in the entire operetta.

After its premiere at the Metropol Theater in Berlin in 1929, Das Land des Lächelns gained widespread popularity. This new production features conductor CHANG Chih-yuan, renowned theater director WANG Chia-ming, and composer and music design LIN Fang-yi, collaborating with Taiwanese vocalists and the NTT & CHEN-YUNG FOUNDATION Choir . WANG Chia-ming has transplanted the story into a contemporary setting, moving away from the dichotomy of East and West. Musically, LIN Fang-yi has crafted a new interpretation for the operetta, incorporating punk rock and new-age music elements. Through the dialectics of sacred and profane, morality and desire, the truth behind the smiles and the politics of love is unveiled.