All of the selections in the headnote are rendered in English, which is the language used in this recording. Alfie (Alfred) Boe has clear diction, so every word is intelligible without resorting to the lyrics printed in the booklet. He also has a lovely voice, a lyric tenor with a warm, hearty midrange and liquid gold in the upper notes. He is capable of a sweet pianissimo, just as capable of sounding robust and masculine, and sings every selection with heartfelt sincerity. Such devotion prevents turning these heart-on-sleeve numbers into maudlin schmaltz. A press release included with the submission tells us that Lehár was Boe's father's favorite composer and that Boe grew up hearing Tauber's recordings. We're told that he recorded these selections to honor his father, who passed away in 1997.

There is enough variety in the material to keep the album interesting for its 44-minute duration. It is a reminder of what good melodies Lehár gave to the world, whether it's the bittersweet reflection of 'Patiently Smiling' from The Land of Smiles or the jaunty "Friends, this is the life for me" from Giuditta. Lehár adapted 'Vilia' from The Merry Widow for a tenor when the operetta was revived in Berlin in 1928. The famous waltz, 'Love unspoken', is a duet in the opera, but is perfectly lovely as a tenor solo on this recording. Only the tenor lines are sung; Hannah's part, unsung becomes orchestral interludes. It works.

Boe is well known in the U.K., and gradually his reputation is spreading internationally, coinciding with a growing body of recorded work. He has some solo albums, and has appeared in a couple of Chando's 'Opera in English' series. I suspect the cover design and choice of titling the album 'Love Was a Dream' is intended to give this album crossover appeal, but does not diminish the quality of the work. Lehár is given serious and sincere respect.