The Merry Widow

Franz Lehár
THE MERRY WIDOW
Operetta in 2 acts
Libretto by Viktor Léon and Leo Stein
Premiere: March 27, 2025

“This story takes us into a luxurious world of pleasure and intrigue, where the desires of the heart, ambition and surprises full of humor intertwine. When life offers a second chance, is it possible to turn it down? The characters in this operetta—noble, charming and a little reckless—seek an answer to this question. The operetta weaves together themes of wealth, independence, and the subtle interplay between love and society’s expectations. This production highlights how the world of high society can become a trap, where wealth and obligations begin to limit a person’s choices. The heroine, Hanna, a symbol of independence, uses her financial freedom to preserve her private life despite society’s demands. It prompts us to consider whether wealth truly brings freedom or makes a person its hostage. Full of romance, satire and striking imagery, this production of The Merry Widow offers a fresh interpretation that pays tribute to the charm of the original while adding contemporary touches,” says the production’s director, Viktorija Streiča.

F. Lehár’s operetta The Merry Widow premiered in Vienna in 1905. It immediately became one of the most successful and frequently staged operettas of all time. In its first years on stage, it conquered Europe’s theatres and captivated audiences at musical theatres on several continents. For more than 120 years, The Merry Widow has retained its charm: an unpretentious, delightfully intriguing plot; melodies that became world-famous hits and wash over the soul with intoxicating violin sounds; and passionate Hungarian dances—all warming the audience’s hearts!

The operetta tells the story of Hanna Glawari, a wealthy widow who comes to Paris for a change of scene. Her compatriots are worried because, if the wealthy widow remarries, their small country’s debt-ridden government will lose its main source of capital. Count Danilo is tasked with marrying the rich widow and keeping her millions in the homeland. But this is not so simple, because Hanna and Danilo’s paths crossed once before… After a string of intrigues, comic situations and the other complicated quarrels between the characters that are essential to an operetta plot, love triumphs and “the homeland is saved.”