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Die lustige Witwe - Lehár

Lehár Die lustige Witwe

From 04 March TO 26 March 2025
Opernhaus - Zurich
Program

Lehár : Die lustige Witwe

Cast
  • Conductor
    Ben Glassberg
  • Director
    Barrie Kosky
  • Performers
    Hanna Glawari: Vida Mikneviciute
    Graf Danilo Danilowitsch: Michael Volle
    Valencienne: Anastasiya Taratorkina
    Camille de Rosillon: Andrew Owens

We can never say it enough, the Opernhaus in Zürich is one of the stages that are most important at international level. The human scale stage has welcomed many of today´s superstars before they established themselves as such. This is where Thomas Hampson and Matthias Goerne got their first international recognition as well as a certain Jonas Kaufmann who was a regular at the Opernhaus in his early days.

  • Venue Info
  • Seating Plan
  • Synopsis

Opernhaus - Zurich LocationFalkenstrasse 1 - 8008 Zurich Suisse

  • Venue's Capacity: 1200

The Zurich Opera House is famous the world over for both opera and dance. It is among the most important European theatres and plays host to leading conductors. The original theatre built in 1833 was replaced by the present building which was opened in 1891. It was the venue for the first performance of Parsifal outside Germany.

The history of the Opernhaus has indeed been punctuated by numerous premieres: Turandot by Busoni in 1917, Lulu in 1937, Mathis der Mahler and Cardillac by Hindemith (1938 and 1952) and Moses und Aron by Schönberg in 1957. Several major conductors such as Otto Ackerman, Hans Knappertsbuch, and Wilhelm Furtwängler conducted a varied repertoire always with the greatest singers (Lisa della Casa was for instance a member of the Opernhaus company).

It was at the Studiobühne too that the young singers Gwyneth Jones and Edith Mathis perfected their craft. One of the most outstanding events of its history was the “re-staging” for the first time of the operas of Monteverdi and Mozart performed on period instruments at the instigation of the pioneer Nikolaus Harnoncourt supported by the legendary stage settings of Jean-Pierre Ponnelle. These productions contributed to the renaissance of Baroque opera and the rediscovery of a vast repertoire.

Today the Opernhaus is one of the few theatres that can pride itself on presenting the greatest stars of the opera world in one and the same season. With its well-thought out and varied programming, the audience has every reason to be satisfied.

Opernhaus

The seating plan is given as an indication and has no contractual value.
The division of categories may differ depending on shows and dates.

Synopsis

Die lustige Witwe

DIE LUSTIGE WITWE OR THE MERRY WIDOW, A BEAUTIFUL OPERETTA

Franz Lehár's classic light opera is a comedic work focusing on eternal themes of romance, financial interest and personal happiness.

The Austro-Hungarian composer's work was originally scripted in German and was known as Die lustige Witwe. Based on Henri Meilhac's 1861 comedy play L'attaché d'ambassade, the operetta could be said to be a truly European work. Since its rapturous Vienna première in 1905, the work has seen countless translations, adaptations and revivals. The French La veuve Joyeuse and the English 'The Merry Widow' are among the best known of these alternate versions.

HISTORY

The light comedy opera of Die lustige Witwe is set in the French capital of 1905. The story focuses on the attempts by the nobility of the fictional province of Pontevedro to secure the riches of the widow in question, a Hanna Glawari. Making great use of situational comedy, misunderstandings and awkward chance meetings, the opera features a host of memorable scenes and musical pieces that remain just as popular today as they were over a hundred years ago.

Act 1

The first act of Die lustige Witwe sets up the central problems of the whole piece. The wealthy widow Hanna and attaché to the ambassador Danilo Danilovitsch are still in love from a youthful affair that took place before Hanna's marriage. However, neither of them can admit it, as Danilo does not wish to be labelled as a gold hunter and Hanna will only marry him when she hears the words 'I love you'.

Act 2

The second act takes place during a grand Pontevedrian costume party at Hanna's Paris mansion. Another set of possible lovers takes the stage, the ambassador Zeta's much younger wife Valencienne and the French Count de Rosillon, Camille. When these two are caught enjoying a brief rendezvous, Hanna bravely switches places with Valencienne and declares her love for Camille. Danilo overhears this and storms off in rage to his favourite Paris bistro, Maxim's.

Act 3

Hoping to lure Danilo back to her, Hanna transforms her home into the interior design of Maxim's. When he arrives she confesses that her engagement to Camille was a bluff and they both declare their love for each other. Valencienne meanwhile manages to convince Zeta of her fidelity, while Hanna joyfully declares that her fortune will be given over to her next husband, the delighted Danilo.


MAIN ROLES

Hanna Glawari, a wealthy widow, soprano
Count Danilo Danilovitsch, First Secretary
of the embassy and Hanna's former lover, tenor or lyric baritone
Baron Mirko Zeta, the Ambassador, baritone
Valencienne, Baron Zeta's wife, soprano
Camille, Count de Rosillon, French attaché
to the embassy, the Baroness's admirer, tenor
Njegus, the Embassy Secretary, spoken

Opernhaus Zurich © Dominic Büttner

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