Die lustige Witwe, Franz Lehár
Title | Die lustige Witwe |
English Title | The merry widow |
Composer | Franz Lehár |
Librettists | Victor Léon and Leo Stein |
Language | German, Dutch translation available |
Genre | Light opera in three acts |
First performance | 28 december 1905, Theater an der Wien, Vienna |
Time of action | Early 20th century in Paris |
Place of action |
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Main parts |
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Prominence of chorus | Mediocre |
Orchestra |
2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones, 1 harp, timpani/percussion, strings (possibly Buhnenmusik) |
Special demands | Small orchestra on stage during 1st act, strum orchestra during first part 2nd act |
Full score and orchestral parts | Available |
Level | The work is not particularly difficult to perform |
Length | Three acts; total time: about 2½ hours |
Music | One of the most popular works in the German repertoire. Many familiar tunes |
Story |
The Pontewedrine widow Hanna Glawari lives a luxury life in Paris. The millions that she inherited threaten to be lost to her fatherland if she marries a Frenchman. Pontewedro's ambassador in Paris, Baron Mirko Zeta, is doing everything he can to prevent this and sends his secretary Danilo Danilovich to woo her. |
Costumes | Partly early 20th century Parisian chic, partly Pontewedrine folkloristic costumes |
Note | |
Pictures | |
Link | The Merry Widow | Franz Lehár |
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Tags: Fransen