The Merry Widow (Die Lustige Witwe) had its premiere at Vienna's Theater an der Wien in 1905. The operetta, which tells
the story of a wealthy widow in search of a new husband was a major success for its composer Franz Lehár (1870-1948) and
quickly travelled to London and became a major Broadway sensation. Often called 'The Queen of Operettas', this is certainly
the most celebrated and successful show of its kind ever written. The melodies and songs - "Vilja", "The Merry Widow Waltz"
or "You'll Find Me At Maxim's", to name but a few - are lovingly played and sung the whole world ove. Combined with the
frivolous Paris-set story line they make the operetta a sure box-office attraction. Frequently staged in an abridged version,
this production from the Staatsoper Dresden features many musical numbers that are usually omitted. With Petra-Maria Schnitzer
and Bo Skovhus the cast includes some of the most prestigious singers of the younger generation under the expert leadership of
conductor Manfred Honeck. This staging by the famous opera director Jérôme Savary makes the "Merry Widow" a very colorful and
a subtle tribute to the golden age of Hollywood.
