“Es lebt eine Vilja”
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The Merry Widow
November 14. 2015 - December 13. 2015
Upcoming Dates
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November 14. 2015 - December 13. 2015
New-to-Chicago Production The Merry Widow
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Beautiful Hanna’s late husband has left her a very rich woman. In fact, she’s so rich that the economy of her homeland depends on her marrying a local — so the ambassador springs into action with the help of his wife (a former cancan girl) to find Hanna the right husband. But it’s a tricky affair because the wily widow already has someone in mind: Count Danilo, an old flame, who has no intention of giving up bachelorhood. He’s got a bevy of beauties delighted to keep him happy with no strings attached.
Rendezvous are rampant. Complications abound. Hanna ultimately gets her man as Lehár’s unforgettable tunes bubble happily along. Susan Stroman, one of Broadway’s hottest directors, leads Lyric’s blockbuster cast, featuring the star power of Renée Fleming, Nicole Cabell, and Thomas Hampson in an “eyepopping production...breathtaking to look at and a pleasure to hear.” Huffington Post
- Language: In English with projected English titles
- Running Time: 2 hours 35 minutes including 1 intermission
- Location: Lyric Opera House
The Merry Widow videos
The Merry Widow
by Franz Lehár
Warner Classics – Schwarzkopf, Waechter, cond. Matacic
Warner Classics is the Official Education and Promotion Music Provider of Lyric Opera.
“Weibermarsch”
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“Lippen schweigen”
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The Merry Widow
by Franz Lehár
Lyric Opera Commentaries are sponsored by the Patrick G. and Shirley Welsh Ryan Foundation in memory of their parents.
© 2015/16 Lyric Opera Commentaries
Original sound recordings of musical excerpts used by permission of Warner Classics. All rights reserved. Recording & Production services provided by Mark Travis.
A project of the Women’s Board.
Commentary by Anthony Freud and Nicholas Ivor Martin
The Merry Widow articles
Susan Stroman on The Merry Widow
All of us at Lyric have been delighted to catch a glimpse of director-choreographer Susan Stroman in the opera house. Susan recently spoke about her experience directing The Merry Widow, working with artists like Renee Fleming and how the work finds a very special home here at Lyric.
Creating the Dance
Lyric's stage will be awhirl this fall with the eye-catching song-and-dance numbers that are central to Franz Lehár's delightful operetta The Merry Widow.
Leading Man: Thomas Hampson Takes the Stage at Lyric as The Merry Widow's Count Danilo
Thomas Hampson is the personification of elegance. In his singing, his appearance, his whole “aura” as a performer, he exudes a special kind of classiness.
The Merry Widow Dances its Way to Rave Reviews
There's a lot of buzz about this "starry" production and its director.
"Stro" and The Merry Widow – Songs & Dances & Second Chances
If you want to get director-choreographer Susan Stroman's attention, just say "Stro!" That's what people have called her since she got into show biz in New York 35 years ago, first as a dancer, then a choreographer and director for some of Broadway's top shows.
Synopsis
TIME: 1900
PLACE: Paris
Meet the artists
*Lyric debut
** Ryan Opera Center alumni
*** Ryan Opera Center Ensemble
Lyric Opera presentation of Lehár's The Merry Widow generously made possible by the Donna Van Eekeren Foundation, Howard Gottlieb and Barbara Greis, Mr. J. Thomas Hurvis, Kirkland & Ellis LLP, and the Mazza Foundation.
Production owned by The Metropolitan Opera.
Photo: Todd Rosenberg