The merry widow is one of the most glorious of all the operettas of the early 20th century. The merry widow and the belle epoque the merry widow premiered in vienna in 1905, during the heyday of operetta and the height of the era known as the belle epoque. A new production of the merry widow, directed and choreographed by susan stroman, underlines the challenges of presenting spoken dialogue in the vast metropolitan opera hall. Maurice chevalier as danilo with the opening number by franz lehar and lorenz hart, jeanette macdonald slipping in as the mysterious widow, from ernst lubitschs celebrated 1934 version of the merry widow. This shortlived issued was initially designed by whitney warren, a leading american beux arts architect, who studied in paris and produce three pen and ink sketches prior to 1908, which he. The melodies and songs vilja, the merry widow waltz, youll find me at maxims to name but a few are lovingly played and sung the whole world over, making it one of the surest boxoffice attractions of all time. Franz lehar merry widow waltz addeddate 20110221 21.
Merry widow definition of merry widow by merriamwebster. Erich kunzel hanna glawari merry widow yvonne kenny earl danilo danilowicz bo skovhus baron zeta carlo. Jeanette macdonald, gordon macrae, nelson eddy the merry. New amsterdam theatre, new york 21 october 1907 416 perfs. Maurice chevalier, jeanette macdonald, edward everett horton, una merkel, george barbier, minna gombell. The tiny nation of pontevedro is on the verge of bankruptcy, and the dashing count danilo must rescue his country by marrying the newly widowed and fabulously wealthy.
I have always loved this piece, and i decided to hold out for a classy recording, having heard a track of this one on the radio. Cast includes anne howells, mikael melbye, jean bruno, marie mclaughlin, barry mccauley and more. Complete your sadlers wells opera company and orchestra conducted by william reid music by franz lehar collection. Step into the ballrooms of paris and join us for our production of the merry widow a lighthearted production filled with tangled affairs, narrow misses and jealous lovers. This shortlived issued was initially designed by whitney warren, a leading american beux. It exists in different forms, but the heart of the waltz is a primary melody that. The merry widow waltz live the mantovani orchestra shazam. The singing is glorious, and all the tempi feel just right. It exists in different forms, but the heart of the waltz is a primary melody that rocks gently upward and perfectly fits the english syllables merry widow, merry widow, then descends just as gently, immediately establishing a sense of sadness or deflation.
An embassy plot to marry her off to the debonair count danilo danilovitch is complicated by the secret affair which. Marshovia, a small european kingdom, is on the brink of bankruptcy but the country may be saved if the wealthy american crystal radek, widow of a marshovian, can be convinced to part with her money and marry the kings nephew count danilo. The merry widow directed by ernst lubitsch, starring maurice chevalier and. Lehar the merry widow highlights franz lehar by dame joan sutherland download and listen to the album. The merry widow ballet australian ballet directed by sir robert helpman souvenir brochure 1981 colin peasley, lynette mann, ray powell.
Album lehar the merry widow highlights, franz lehar. Reflecting the splendour of imperial vienna with its whirlwind of sumptuous parties and decor, the operetta stands out for the elegance and colour of an orchestration of symphonic scale. With richard bonynge, elizabethan philharmonic, the australian opera chorus, australian opera ballet. It presents an adaptation for tv of the work that only takes a reasonable number of liberties, given the broadcast medium, with the music and libretto of the work. Graham, right, in a more elegant moment, in the title role of the merry widow at the met in 2015. However, the composer frequently worked with jewish librettists and was married to a jewish woman. Arriving to marshovia on a visit, crystal radek change places with her secretary. The action of the merry widow takes place in paris. Merry widow definition is a strapless corset or bustier usually having garters attached. Lehars music was popular with hitler and other nazis. The merry widow by otto ackermann from amazons classical music. If you want a superior version of the merry widow, check out the san francisco operas version from 2001.
Dalys theatre, london 8 june, 1907 book and lyrics adapted by basil hood and adrian ross. Its a fun one, and properly wintery since its set in the frozen arctic lands and. I read steve hassans book on cult mentality while researching something else, and recognized jws in all of it. Based on franz lehars operetta, the merry widown is an amusing and intelligent film. An embassy plot to marry her off to the debonair count danilo danilovitch is complicated by the secret affair which has developed between the. The librettists, viktor leon and leo stein, based the story concerning a rich widow, and her countrymens attempt to keep her money in the principality by finding her the right husband on an 1861 comedy play, lattache dambassade the embassy attache by henri meilhac. The merry widow, the helmut of mercury, the special delivery stamp of 1908 is all the same stamp, depending on who does the calling.
Print and download the merry widow sheet music from the merry widow arranged for piano. My christmas tree stands right before the book shelf this year and on first christmas days eve, after everyone had already retired for the night, the merry widow caught my eye through the branches and candle glow and so why not. The merry widow was a huge international success, and helped to give operetta a new lease on life that continued for. The merry widow from the merry widow sheet music piano. Susan graham, her voice mellow and intimate, plays the title role in the merry widow at the metropolitan opera. Nelson eddy home rehearsal recordings, with gale sherwood jacket made in canada. Franz lehar, the merry widow in english 27 03 1996 new york city opera. The merry widow is a shimmering allsinging, all dancing broadway style show the sydney morning herald, a frothy comedy packed with familiar waltzes and tuneful melodies. The belle epoquethe beautiful erarefers to the period of european history between the years 1871 and 1914. The merry widow waltz live the mantovani orchestra. Una merkel is on hand again, annd inexplicably wasted as the widow s bland companion. Pontevedro, her native country, will be left bankrupt if she weds a foreigner. Cocktail bar, event venue, and private event space located in downtown mobile, alabama. Step into the ballrooms of paris and join us for our production of the merry widow a lighthearted production filled with tangled affairs, narrow misses and jealous lovers the tiny nation of pontevedro is on the verge of bankruptcy, and the dashing count danilo must rescue his country by marrying the newly widowed and fabulously wealthy hanna glawari.
In act i we find ourselves in the ballroom of the pontivedrian. Features up to date information about this witty new translation by chicagoans gregg opelka and jack helbig. With mary costa, jeremy brett, joyce blackham, ryland davies. Maurice chevalier as danilo with the opening number by franz lehar and lorenz hart, jeanette macdonald slipping in as the mysterious widow, from ernst lubitschs celebrated 1934 version of the merry widow view the tcmdb entry for the merry widow 1934. Join us in helping people feel better with the radon health mine for over 50 years. Album lehar the merry widow highlights, franz lehar by.
Operetta concerning a rich widow, and her countrymens attempt to keep her money in the principality by finding her the right husband. The merry widow, a hungarian silent film directed by michael curtiz. The nazi regime awarded his wife, sophie, the status of honorary aryan. Una merkel is on hand again, annd inexplicably wasted as the widows bland companion. The complete broadcast of the merry widow, starring jeanette macdonald and gordon macrae, 3749. The merry widow is one of the gems of viennese operetta. From the sumptuous art deco era costumes to the stunning, geometric sets, the show is visually stunning sometimes you simply dont know where to look the. The merry widow maurice chevalier jeanette macdonald edward everett horton 1934 a playboy prince maurice chevalier from a tiny kingdom is sent to. Aug 19, 20 franz lehar, the merry widow in english 27 03 1996 new york city opera. Comedy, drama, romance annemarie lives an easy life with gilbert, a rich plastic surgeon. Franz lehar, the merry widow in english 27 03 1996 new. E nglish national operas new production of the merry widow marks the return, after an overlong absence, of director john copley. The merry widow, a french television series which uses the music from the operetta, but not the plot the merry widow, the nickname of a live tori amos version of her song professional widow thee merry widows, a psychobilly band.
Jeanette macdonald, gordon macrae, nelson eddy the merry widow. It is easy to see why this merry widow did poorly at the box office. The merry widow cast list on, the most comprehensive source for broadway shows, broadway tickets and broadway information. The merry widow maurice chevalier jeanette macdonald edward everett horton 1934 a playboy prince maurice chevalier from a tiny kingdom is sent to woo a rich widow jeanette macdonald in paris. Opening chorus a dutiful wife valencienne and camille in marsovia hanna and men originally. Ladies sweep into ballrooms in silk fishtail gowns, and dapper gents in suits and patent leather shoes kiss your hand and fill up your dance card. He looked and acted the part and both his voice, and cheryl studers are. Franz lehars music is indeed glorious, but some of the acting isnt so good.
1363 987 251 501 443 1076 295 1148 999 1046 952 250 1551 1175 1307 1150 730 827 1306 431 64 847 685 574 1025 1269 1416 729 863 1353