The Merry Widow

ABOUT PERFORMANCE

The librettist Leo Stein found the theme for The Merry Widow in the form of a French comedy which he accidentally discovered when browsing through a library during a visit. The nominated composer was not interested, so young Franz Lehár was chosen. If this was a stroke of fate, it turned out to be a very lucky one. Lehár, with a Hungarian mother and a Moravian father, had a feeling for melody, style and wit that was probably thanks to his mixed family heritage. Every number in The Merry Widow is a small musical gift, and melodies such as You´ll Find Me at Maxim´s, Vilja Song, and Women, Oh, Women quickly became famous. Lehár also achieved renown thanks to The Merry Widow, and today his opera is also part of the repertoire at the New York MET. The Merry Widow is returning to the Brno stage after almost thirty years, and will be staged by an experienced team. The director Magdalena Švecová, together with the choreographer Martin Pack and the artists Zuzana Přidalová and David Janošek, are the authors of previous great narrative productions of Ferdy the Ant and La bohème. You can look forward to experiencing the magic of Paris at the beginning of the 20th century in all its splendour.

CAST AND CREATIVE

Hanna Glawari: Veronika Rovná - J.H. / Jana Šrejma Kačírková
Hrabě Danilo: Jiří Hájek - J.H. / Roman Hoza / Daniel Kfelíř - J.H.
Camille, hrabě de Rosillon: Ondřej Koplík / Martin Šrejma - J.H.
Baron Mirko Zeta, velvyslanec: Jan Šťáva / Jiří Sulženko
Valencienne, jeho žena: Doubravka Součková - J.H. / Andrea Široká
and others

Author: Franz Lehár 
Musical preparation, conductor: Jakub Klecker 
Conductor: Pavel Šnajdr
Director: Magdalena Švecová 
Set design: David Janošek 
Costumes: Zuzana Přidalová 
Movement collaboration: Martin Pacek
Chorus master: Pavel Koňárek 
Dramaturgy: Patricie Částková
Lighting design: Přemysl Janda 

Performed in the original Italian with Czech, English and German subtitles.