Michael Lakner selected an absolute operetta rarity for a premiere during his last season as the director of the Lehár Festival in 2017: Kaiserin Josephine (Empress Josephine) by Emmerich Kálmán. His daughter Yvonne Kálmán had to flee to the United States with her Jewish father. In New York Emmerich Kálmán 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 Kálmán’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, Kálmán’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.

Cast:
- Josephine Beauharnais: Miriam Portmann
- Napoleon Bonaparte: Vincent Schirrmacher
- Eugene Beauharnais: Constantin Zeilner
- Paul Barras: Paul Schmitzberger
- Talleyrand: Alois Walchshofer
- Hippolyte Charles: August Schram
- Herzogin von Aiguillon: Dorli Buchinger
- Therese Tallien: Adelheid Brandstetter
- Juliette: Theresa Grabner
- Corporal Bernard: Roman Martin
- General Berthier: Steven Scheschareg
- Marion: Birgit Stockler