THE MERRY WIDOW (DIE LUSTIGE WITWE)

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February 17, 2012 at 8pm
February 19, 2012 at 2pm

By Franz Lehár
Libretto by Victor Léon and Leo Stein based on Henri Meilhac’s L’attaché d’ambassade

First performed on December 30, 1905 at the Première Theater an der Wien in Vienna

Place:  The Pontevedrian Embassy in Paris and Hanna Glawari’s house in Paris
Time:  Early 20th century

Overture

Vilia song - Let's all now waken

ENRICHMENT

Lunch & Listen  |  February 1, 2012  |  12 noon
A collaboration with WUOL Louisville Public Media, produced in front of a live audience, featuring musical excerpts from The Merry Widow with interviews and commentaries by David Roth.
Louisville Public Media  | 619 South Fourth Street
RSVP: Kate Kleinert at 502.587.8681

ARTISTIC TEAM

Director: Michael Cavanagh
Hanna: Emily Pulley
Danilo: Christopher Feigum
Camille: Victor Ryan Robertson
Baron Zeta: Stephanos Tsirakoglou

ACT I – the Pontevedrian embassy in Paris

A party is underway to celebrate the Pontevedrian prince’s birthday at their embassy in Paris.  Baron Mirko Zeta, the leader of the embassy staff, is most concerned in finding Hanna Glawari, the widow of one of the richest men in Pontevedria.  Zeta is afraid that Hanna will find a new husband among the Parisian men and take her money out of the country.  Zeta’s young French wife, Valencienne, has been flirting with Camille de Rosillon who tells her of the seriousness of his love (I’m a highly respectable wife).  Zeta sends the embassy secretary, Njegus, to ensure that Count Danilo is available when Hanna arrives.  Zeta hopes that the Pontevedrian Danilo will be able to woo Hanna and keep her money in the impoverished country.  Zeta was considering asking Camille to woo Hanna, but has discovered that Camille is in love with a married woman.

Hanna makes her entrance and invites everyone to a party at her house the following evening.  Baron Zeta welcomes her and Hanna, who is quite aware of the Baron’s interest in her money, assures him that she is a Pontevedrian at heart.  With her male admirers in tow, Hanna leads them into an adjoining room for the festivities.  Count Danilo Danilovich arrives and declares that after a hard day’s work for his country, he likes nothing better than a visit to Maxim’s (I’m off to chez Maxim).  Zeta mentions Hanna’s arrival to Danilo, who has a less than enthusiastic reaction.  It is discovered that Danilo and Hanna were in love many years ago, but Danilo’s family was against the match.  Hanna and Danilo find themselves seated together and Danilo tells Hanna that he will never say he loves her, if it is interpreted that he loves her money.  Zeta tells Danilo that it is his patriotic duty to marry Hanna and save Pontevedria’s future.  The final dance is announced as Ladies’ Choice and Danilo outmaneuvers all the other men to dance with Hanna.

ACT II – Hanna Glawari’s house, the next evening

A genuine Pontevedrian party is underway when Hanna interrupts to sing the ballad of Vilja, a forest nymph who fell in love with a mortal man (The once lived a Vilja).  Danilo arrives and Hanna begins her pursuit of him.  They sing together of a couple going on a romantic carriage ride (Silly, silly cavalryman).  Zeta asks Njegus and Danilo to meet him in the summerhouse for a conference and with other men from the party, they reflect on how difficult it is to figure out women (Oh these women, dreadful women).  Prior to the impromptu conference, Valencienne and Camille meet in the summerhouse where Valencienne reluctantly asks Camille to propose to Hanna.  Njegus, having seen the would be lovers enter the summerhouse, quickly assists Valencienne out through the back when Zeta swears he saw her in the summerhouse with an unknown man.  Zeta looks again and sees Hanna with Camille.  Hanna announces that she and Camille are engaged, to the annoyance of Danilo and Valencienne who perceives Camille to be fickle. The jealous Danilo sings a sad song (There once were two royal children) and heads off to Maxim’s to forget his troubles.

ACT III – the ballroom of Hanna Glawari’s house

Njegus has transformed Hanna’s ballroom into a replica of Maxim’s.  Valencienne and the dancing girls are singing and dancing.  Danilo enters and is greeted by a telegram confirming that unless money is found immediately, the Pontevedrian treasury will be bankrupt.  Hanna tells Danilo that the events in the pavilion were not as they seemed and she never intended to marry Camille.  Danilo admits that he loves her and they waltz together.  Zeta is overjoyed until he discovers his wife’s fan in the pavilion and realizes she betrayed him.  He declares himself divorced and free to marry Hanna himself.  Hanna tells him that as per her late husband’s will, she is forbidden to marry again or lose her inheritance.  At it turns out, the fan has writing on it, in Valencienne’s clear hand, “I am a respectable wife”.  Danilo is delighted that he is free to propose to Hanna, who tells him that she will indeed lose her fortune because it will pass to her new husband.  Danilo laughs and realizes that he will marry the woman he loves and save his country at the same time.  All join in the final ode to the mystery of women.