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OperaNotes Review
Metropolitan Opera House
January 7, 2004
By Charlene Frank
The Merry Widow
Music: Franz Lehár
Libretto: Victor Léon and Leo Stein
Conductor: Kirill Petrenko
Production: Tim Albery
Set and Costume Designer: Antony McDonald
Stage Director: Gina Lapinski
Cast:
Baron Mirko Zeta: James Courtney
Hanna Glwari: Susan Graham
Valencienne: Tracy Dahl
Count Danielo Danilowitsch: Bo Skovhus
Njegus: Anthony Nonnemacher
Vicomte Comte: Ian Greenlaw
Camille De Rosillion: Tony Stevenson
Olga: Sandra Piques Eddy
Sylvaine: Yvonne Gonzales Redman
Praskowia: Jane Shaulis
Raoul De St. Brioche: Eduardo Valdes
Kromow: Robert Orth
Die Lustige Witwe (The Merry Widow) was supposed
to be a failure when it debuted at the Theater an der Wien in Vienna in 1905.
Were they ever wrong! The people of Vienna tried it and loved it, and people
everywhere keep on loving it. Though Franz Lehár was never able to duplicate
the level of success he had with this lovely operetta, it was enough to win him
a place in operatic history.
The story takes place in the aging Pontevedrian embassy in Paris. The big
question in the operetta is: Will the window, Hanna Glawari (mezzo-soprano Susan
Graham) marry a Parisian and take her millions out of Pontevedro, thus
bankrupting the country, or will she marry a Pontevedrian and save the
"fatherland"? Everyone wants her money, and of course, she is looking
for a man who loves her before her money. Of course, love wins over money, but
getting to there is fun.
Susan Graham is very good in the role of Hanna Glawari. A tall, sophisticated
and comedic soprano, she owns this role well. Her rendition of Vilja was
warm and quietly strong exactly where it needed to be quietly strong.
Danish baritone Bo Skovhus was a good Count Danielo, but not too memorable. He
looked good, his physical presence was a compliment to Ms. Graham's stature, his
voice was quite solid, but he never looked or sounded comfortable in the role.
When Hanna said he danced like an angel, she must have been thinking of a very
stiff angel.
Anthony Nonnemacher (Njegus) earned all the laughs he received. The grisettes
(dancing girls) were a delight. And Tracy Dahl (Valencienne) stole the show. Her
soprano was strong and clear, her sense of comedy was terrific, she danced very
well, and the topper was that she did cartwheels on stage! Who could ask for
more! It was quite an enjoyable evening.