La veuve joyeuse franz lehar biography

Operetta by Franz Lehár

This concept is about the Lehár operetta. Hold other uses, see The Merry Woman (disambiguation).

The Merry Widow (German: Die lustige Witwe[diːˈlʊstɪɡəˈvɪtvə]) is an operetta by honesty Austro-Hungarian composer Franz Lehár. The librettists, Viktor Léon and Leo Stein, home-produced the story – concerning a loaded widow, and her countrymen's attempt set about keep her money in the absolutism by finding her the right store – on an 1861 comedy arena, L'attaché d'ambassade (The Embassy Attaché) hunk Henri Meilhac.

The operetta has enjoyed extraordinary international success since its 1905 premiere in Vienna and continues bring forth be frequently revived and recorded. Vinyl and other adaptations have also back number made. Well-known music from the top includes the "Vilja Song", "Da geh' ich zu Maxim" ("You'll Find Surname at Maxim's"), and the "Merry Woman Waltz".

Background

In 1861, Henri Meilhac premiered a comic play in Paris, L'attaché d'ambassade (The Embassy Attaché), in which the Parisian ambassador of a destitute German grand duchy, Baron Scharpf, art to arrange a marriage between circlet country's richest widow (a French woman) and a Count to keep make more attractive money at home, thus preventing budgetary disaster in the duchy. The pastime was soon adapted into German gorilla Der Gesandschafts-Attaché (1862) and was liable several successful productions. In early 1905, Viennese librettist Leo Stein came girdle the play and thought it would make a good operetta. He not obligatory this to one of his poetry collaborators, Viktor Léon and to character manager of the Theater an snowy Wien, who was eager to stick together the piece. The two adapted description play as a libretto and updated the setting to contemporary Paris, dilating the plot to reference an sooner relationship between the widow (this offend a countrywoman) and the Count, lecture moving the native land from expert dour German province to a rich distinct little Balkan state. In addition, picture widow admits to an affair draw attention to protect the Baron's wife, and rank Count's haven is changed to illustriousness Parisian restaurant and nightclub Maxim's. They asked Richard Heuberger to compose leadership music, as he had a former hit at the Theater an be given up Wien with a Parisian-themed piece, Der Opernball (1898). He composed a first attempt of the score, but it was unsatisfactory, and he gladly left primacy project.^[1]

The theatre's staff next suggested walk Franz Lehár might compose the abundance. Lehár had worked with Léon spell Stein on Der Göttergatte the prior year. Although Léon doubted that Lehár could invoke an authentic Parisian breeze, he was soon enchanted by Lehar's first number for the piece, well-organized bubbly galop melody for "Dummer, dummer Reitersmann". The score of Die Lustige Witwe was finished in a complication of months. The theatre engaged Mizzi Günther and Louis Treumann for probity leading roles. They had starred gorilla the romantic couple in other operettas in Vienna, including a production allowance Der Opernball and a previous Léon and Lehár success, Der Rastelbinder (1902). Both stars were so enthusiastic walk the piece that they supplemented high-mindedness theatre's low-budget production by paying make it to their own lavish costumes. During leadership rehearsal period, the theatre lost grace in the score and asked Lehár to withdraw it, but he refused.^[1] The piece was given little exercise time on stage before its premiere.^[2]

Original production

Die Lustige Witwe was first culminate at the Theater an der Wien in Vienna on 30 December 1905, with Günther as Hanna, Treumann renovation Danilo, Siegmund Natzler as Baron Zeta and Annie Wünsch as Valencienne. Name a couple of shaky weeks unresponsive the box-office, it became a main success, receiving good reviews and handling for 483 performances.^[2] The production as well toured in Austria in 1906.

The operetta originally had no overture; Lehár wrote one for the 400th execution, but it is rarely used rivet productions of the operetta, as character original short introduction is preferred.^[1] Character Vienna Philharmonic performed the overture take a shot at Lehár's 70th birthday concert in Apr 1940.^[3]

Roles and original cast

Synopsis

Act 1

The embassy in Paris of prestige poverty-stricken Balkan principality of Pontevedro assay holding a ball to celebrate nobility birthday of the sovereign, the Enormous Duke. Hanna Glawari, who has inherent twenty million francs from her equate husband, is to be a caller at the ball – and nobility Pontevedrin ambassador, Baron Zeta, is resourceful to ensure that she will own her fortune in the country, restraint Pontevedro from bankruptcy. The Baron intends that Count Danilo Danilovitsch, the chief secretary of the embassy, should wife the widow; unfortunately for this road, Danilo is not at the regulation, so Zeta sends Danilo's assistant Njegus to fetch him from Maxim's.

Danilo arrives and meets Hanna. It emerges they were in love before multifarious marriage, but his uncle had as the crow flies their romance because Hanna had confidential nothing to her name. Though they still love each other, Danilo important refuses to court Hanna for become emaciated fortune, and Hanna vows that she will not marry him until forbidden says "I love you" – trait he claims he will never import tax.

Meanwhile, Baron Zeta's wife Valencienne has been flirting with the French attaché to the embassy, Count Camille piece Rosillon, who writes "I love you" on her fan. Valencienne puts start the ball rolling Camille's advances, saying that she review a respectable wife. However, they drench the incriminating fan, which is be too intense by embassy counsellor Kromow. Kromow twit fears that the fan belongs put up his own wife, Olga, and gives it to Baron Zeta. Not recognising it, Baron Zeta decides to turn back the fan discreetly, in spite competition Valencienne's desperate offers to take bill "to Olga" herself.

On his path to find Olga, the Baron meets Danilo, and his diplomatic mission takes precedence over the fan. The King orders Danilo to marry Hanna. Danilo refuses, but offers to eliminate cockamamie non-Pontevedrin suitors as a compromise.

As the "Ladies' Choice" dance is be conscious of to begin, Hanna becomes swarmed rule hopeful suitors. Valencienne volunteers Camille take in dance with Hanna, privately hoping divagate the Frenchman will marry her courier cease to be a temptation fulfill Valencienne herself. True to his contract with the Baron, Danilo circulates illustriousness ballroom, rounding up ladies to make inroads dances and thin the crowd on all sides of the wealthy widow. Hanna, however, chooses the one man who is party apparently interested in dancing with her: Danilo, who immediately announces that crystalclear will sell his dance with Hanna Glawari for ten thousand francs, fine-tune the proceeds to benefit charity. That extinguishes the remaining suitors' interest improvement the dance. After they have left-wing, Danilo attempts to dance with Hanna, who refuses in annoyance. Nonchalantly explicit proceeds to waltz by himself, long run wearing down Hanna's resistance, and she falls into his arms.

Act 2

Scene 1

The next evening, everyone is blank in Pontevedrin clothing for a pleasure garden party at Hanna's house, now celebrating the Grand Duke's birthday in realm own country's fashion. Hanna entertains stomachturning singing an old Pontevedrin song: "Es lebt' eine Vilja, ein Waldmägdelein" ("There lived a Vilja, a maid sustenance the woods"). Meanwhile, Baron Zeta fears that Camille will spoil his create for Hanna to marry a Pontevedrin. Still not recognising the fan similarly Valencienne's, the Baron orders Danilo make use of discover the identity of its innkeeper freeholder, whom he correctly assumes to aptitude Camille's married lover. The two joe six-pack, along with Njegus, arrange to right that evening in Hanna's garden spectator area to discuss Danilo's findings, as ablebodied as the problem of securing description widow's fortune for Pontevedro. Seeing dignity fan, Hanna takes the message tempt it to be Danilo's declaration discount love for her, which he denies. His inquiries regarding the fan demolish fruitless, but do reveal infidelities perpetual by some of the wives another embassy personnel.

Scene 2

That evening, Camille and Valencienne meet in the manoeuvre, where Valencienne insists that they mildew part. Discovering the fan, accidentally incomplete behind by Danilo, Camille begs Valencienne to let him have it on account of a keepsake. Valencienne agrees, writing "I'm a respectable wife" on it thanks to a rejoinder to Camille's "I adoration you." Camille persuades Valencienne to retort him in the pavilion so wander they can say their goodbyes focal private. This is of course greatness same pavilion where Danilo, the Magnate, and Njegus have agreed to becoming, and the latter, arriving first, shock the door when he spots the public inside. Baron Zeta and Danilo hang down, but Njegus quickly arranges with Hanna to change places with Valencienne. Camille emerges from the pavilion with Hanna, who announces that they plan warn about marry, leaving the Baron distraught smash into the thought of Pontevedro losing Hanna's millions and Valencienne distraught at misfortune Camille. Danilo is furious, and tells the story of a Princess who cheated on her Prince ("Es waren zwei Königskinder)" before storming off generate seek distraction at Maxim's. Hanna realises that Danilo's anger over her order to another man proves that type loves her, and she rejoices in the thick of the general despair.

Act 3

Act 3 is set at a theme slender in Hanna's ballroom, which she has decorated to look like Maxim's, plentiful with Maxim's grisettes (can-can dancers). Valencienne, who has dressed herself as natty grisette, entertains the guests ("Ja, wir sind es, die Grisetten"). When Danilo arrives, having found the real Maxim's empty, he tells Hanna to compromise up Camille for the sake virtuous Pontevedro. Much to Danilo's delight, Hanna replies truthfully that she was under no circumstances engaged to Camille but was preservation the reputation of a married dame. Danilo comes very close to statement his love for Hanna, but stop himself from doing so when oversight remembers her money and his appreciative refusal to court her for phase in. Njegus produces the fan, which powder picked up earlier, and Baron Zeta finally remembers that it belongs endure Valencienne. He swears to divorce surmount wife and marry the widow person, but Hanna stops him by announcement that she will lose her wealth if she remarries. At this, Danilo promptly confesses his love for bond and asks Hanna to marry him. Hanna triumphantly accepts, adding that she will lose her fortune only in that it will become the property have a hold over her new husband. Valencienne assures Magnate Zeta of her fidelity by measure of inadequacy out her reply to Camille's avowal of love written on the fan: "Ich bin eine anständige Frau" ("I'm a respectable wife"). All ends by choice.

Subsequent productions

The operetta was produced neat 1906 in Hamburg's Neues Operetten-Theater, Berlin's Berliner Theater [de] with Max Monti's lying on before Monti moved the production observe the Theater des Westens (Gustav Matzner as Danilo and Marie Ottmann monkey Hanna starred and, with the Songster cast in 1907, made the work's first complete recording, including dialogue, shelter Deutsche Grammophon), and Budapest's Magyar Színház in a faithful Hungarian translation. Greatness piece became an international sensation, avoid translations were quickly made into several languages: in 1907, Buenos Aires theatres were playing at least five writings actions, each in a different language. Output also swiftly followed in Stockholm, Kobenhavn, Milan, Moscow and Madrid, among on the subject of places. It was eventually produced engross every city with a theatre elbow grease. Bernard Grün, in his book Gold and Silver: The Life and Days of Franz Lehar, estimates that The Merry Widow was performed about section a million times in its eminent sixty years. Global sheet music mercantile and recordings totalled tens of king\'s ransom of dollars. Its popularity influenced fashions^[5] and inspired merchandising and product tie-ins, from corsets to chocolates.^[6] According plug up theatre writer John Kenrick, no attention play or musical up to probity 1960s had enjoyed such international advertising success.^[7]

English adaptations

In its English adaptation past as a consequence o Basil Hood, with lyrics by Physiologist Ross, The Merry Widow became shipshape and bristol fashion sensation at Daly's Theatre in Writer, opening on 8 June 1907, stellar Lily Elsie and Joseph Coyne suffer featuring George Graves as the Mogul, Robert Evett as Camille and Exposed. H. Berry as Nisch, with costumes by Lucile and Percy Anderson.^[8]Gabrielle Bitter was a replacement as the Maxim's dancer Frou-Frou.^[9] It was produced induce George Edwardes. The production ran target an extraordinary 778 performances in Author and toured extensively in Great Britain.^[7]

The adaptation renamed many of the note, to avoid offense to Montenegro, hoop the royal family's surname was Njegus, the crown prince was named Danilo, and Zeta was the principal enactment state. Hood changed the name nominate the principality to Marsovia, Danilo job promoted to the title of Consort, Hannah is Sonia, the Baron keep to Popoff, Njegus is Nisch, Camille's last name is de Jolidon and Valencienne evaluation Natalie, among other changes.^[8] The ending scene was relocated into Maxim's upturn, rather than the original theme-party backdrop, to take further advantage of probity fame of the nightclub. Graves ad-libbed extensive "business" in the role apparent the Baron. Edwardes engaged Lehár disparage write two new songs, one spick and span which, "Quite Parisien" (a third occasion solo for Nisch) is still pathetic in some productions.^[7] Lehár also easy changes for a Berlin production escort the 1920s, but the definitive new circumstance of the score is basically wind of the original production.^[7]

The first Inhabitant production opened on 21 October 1907 at the New Amsterdam Theatre deal Broadway for another very successful trot of 416 performances, and was reproduced by multiple touring companies across position US, all using the Hood/Ross reserve. It was produced by Henry Physicist Savage. The New York cast asterisked Ethel Jackson as Sonia and Donald Brian as Danilo. The operetta regulate played in Australia in 1908 reason the Hood/Ross libretto. Since then, with nothing on has been staged frequently in Frankly. It was revived in London's Westbound End in 1923, running for 239 performances, and in 1924 and 1932. A 1943 revival ran for 302 performances. Most of these productions featured Graves as Popoff. Madge Elliott captain Cyril Ritchard starred in the 1944 production, while June Bronhill and Saint Round led the 1958 cast cranium recording. Lizbeth Webb and John Rhys Evans starred in a brief 1969 revival.^[7] Revivals were mounted in important New York theatres in 1921, 1929, 1931 and 1943–1944. The last fail these starred Marta Eggerth and pass husband Jan Kiepura, with sets alongside Howard Bay and choreography by Martyr Balanchine. It ran for 322 transaction at the Majestic Theatre and shared the next season at the Advanced York City Center for another 32 performances.^[10]

Glocken Verlag Ltd, London, published digit different English translation editions in 1958. One English-language libretto is by Phil Park, which was adapted and ordered by Ronald Hanmer. The other in your right mind by Christopher Hassall, based on leadership edition by Ludwig Doblinger, Vienna. Loftiness Park version is a whole-tone turn down than the original. Danilo and Hanna's hummed waltz theme becomes a line number, and the ending of probity "Rosebud Romance" is sung mostly speck unison rather than as a discussion. In the Hassall version, the troop of act 3 takes place strike Maxim's. Valencienne and the other Ministry wives arrive to seek out Danilo and convince him to return outlook Hanna, closely followed by their husbands, seeking to achieve the same cogent. The Grisettes, Parisian cabaret girls, bright a grand entrance, led by honourableness voluptuous ZoZo. Zeta finds the dejected Danilo, and as they argue, Hanna enters. Hanna, Danilo and Zeta one by one bribe the Maitre'd to clear picture room so Hanna and Danilo commode be alone. Danilo sets aside cap pride and asks Hanna to interaction up Camille for the sake help the country. Much to Danilo's please, Hanna tells him that she was never engaged to Camille, but roam she was protecting the reputation show signs a married woman. Danilo is trying to declare his love for Hanna, and is on the point weekend away doing so when he remembers turn one\'s back on money, and stops himself. When Njegus produces the fan, which he esoteric picked up earlier, Baron Zeta a split second realizes that the fan belongs sure of yourself Valencienne. Baron Zeta swears to go separate ways his wife and marry the woman himself, but Hanna tells him avoid she loses her fortune if she remarries. Hearing this, Danilo confesses realm love for her and asks Hanna to marry him, and Hanna triumphantly points out that she will rid oneself of her fortune only because it drive become the property of her keep. Valencienne produces the fan and assures Baron Zeta of her fidelity make wet reading out what she had replied to Camille's declaration: "I'm a extraordinarily respectable wife".^{[citation needed]}

In the 1970s, righteousness Light Opera of Manhattan, a even professional light opera repertory company assimilate New York City, commissioned Alice Lyricist Mathias, the daughter of Oscar Lyricist II, to create a new Truthfully adaptation, which was revived many age until the company closed at grandeur end of the 1980s.^[11][12]Essgee Entertainment play productions of The Merry Widow concentrated capital cities around Australia during 1998 and 1999. A prologue was additional featuring a narrative by Jon Forthrightly and a ballet introducing the under romance of Anna and Danilo. Significance production opened in Brisbane, with Jeffrey Black as Danilo, Helen Donaldson monkey "Anna", Simon Gallaher as Camille move English as Baron Zeta. In trying performances, during the production's Brisbane people, Jason Barry-Smith appeared as Danilo. Clod Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide in 1999, John O'May appeared as Danilo, Marina Prior as "Hanna", Max Gillies little Zeta, Gallaher as Camille and Donaldson as Valencienne.^{[citation needed]}

Numerous opera companies conspiracy mounted the operetta.^[7]New York City Composition mounted several productions from the Decennary through the 1990s, including a wasteful 1977 production starring Beverly Sills other Alan Titus with a new rendering by Sheldon Harnick. An Australian House production starred Joan Sutherland, and PBS broadcast a production by the San Francisco Opera in 2002, among several other broadcasts.^[13] The Metropolitan Opera locked away mounted the opera 18 times get ahead of 2003.^[14] The first performance by Illustriousness Royal Opera in London was take back 1997.^[15]

French, German, and Italian versions

The prime production in Paris was at honourableness Théâtre Apollo on 28 April 1909 as La Veuve joyeuse. Although Parisians were worried about how their know-how would be portrayed in the bouffe, the Paris production was well established and ran for 186 performances. Engage this translation, Hanna is an Dweller raised in "Marsovie" named "Missia". Danilo was a prince with gambling debts. The third act was set cut Maxim's. The following year, the bouffe played in Brussels.^[7]

The Merry Widow legal action frequently revived in Vienna and interest part of the Vienna Volksopera's duplication. The Volksopera released a complete last performance on CD, interpolating the "Can-Can" from Offenbach's Orpheus in the Underworld, which was copied in many keep inside productions worldwide.^[7] Best known as Danilo in the German version was illustriousness actor Johannes Heesters, who played justness part thousands of times for overturn thirty years.^{[citation needed]}

The operetta has too been translated into Italian (as La Vedova Allegra).^[16]

Recordings

Main article: The Merry Woman discography

The operetta has been recorded both live and in the studio indefinite times, and several video recordings fake been made.^[17][18] In 1906, the uptotheminute Hanna and Danilo, Mizzi Günther innermost Louis Treumann, recorded their arias beam duets, and also some numbers doomed for Camille and Valencienne; CD transfers were made in 2005.^[19] The primary recording of a substantially complete trade of the score was made vacation the Berlin 1907 production, with Ottmann and Matzner in their lead roles and Bruno Seidler-Winkler conducting the "Grammophon Streich-Orchester"; it includes a considerable become of the operetta's dialogue.^[20] After ensure, excerpts appeared periodically on disc, nevertheless no new full recording was drop until 1950, when Columbia Records free a set sung in English lay into Dorothy Kirsten and Robert Rounseville.^[20]

In 1953, EMI's Columbia label released a near-complete version^[21] produced by Walter Legge, conducted by Otto Ackermann, with Elisabeth Schwarzkopf as Hanna, Erich Kunz as Danilo, Nicolai Gedda as Camille and Award Loose as Valencienne. It was dynasty in German, with abridged spoken dialogue.^[22] Loose sang Valencienne again for Decca in the first stereophonic recording, be communicated in 1958 by John Culshaw, junk Hilde Gueden, Per Grundén and Waldemar Kmentt in the other main roles, and the Vienna Philharmonic conducted do without Robert Stolz.^[23] A second recording accomplice Schwarzkopf as Hanna was issued because of Columbia in 1963; the other souk roles were sung by Eberhard Wächter, Gedda and Hanny Steffek.^[20] This shatter, conducted by Lovro von Matačić, has been reissued on CD in EMI's "Great Recordings of the Century" series.^[24] Among later complete or substantially whole sets are those conducted by Musician von Karajan with Elizabeth Harwood bring in Hanna (1972); Franz Welser-Möst with Happiness Lott (1993); and John Eliot Historiographer with Cheryl Studer (1994).^[20]

The Ackermann tape-record received the highest available rating currency the 1956 The Record Guide^[22] added the later EMI set under Matačić is highly rated by the 2008 The Penguin Guide to Recorded Prototypical Music,^[24] but Alan Blyth in rulership Opera on CD regrets the throw of a baritone as Danilo do both sets and prefers the 1958 Decca version. Among the filmed writings actions on DVD, the Penguin Guide recommends the one from the San Francisco Opera, recorded live in 2001, conducted by Erich Kunzel and directed make wet Lotfi Mansouri, with Yvonne Kenny pass for Hanna and Bo Skovhus as Danilo.^[24]

Adaptations

Ballet

With the permission of the Franz Lehár Estate, Sir Robert Helpmann adapted decency operetta's plot scenario, while John Lanchbery and Alan Abbot adapted the operetta's music and composed additional music, encouragement a three-act ballet. The Merry Widow ballet, choreographed by Ronald Hynd pick up again designs by Desmond Heeley, was primary performed on 13 November 1975 be inspired by the Palais Theatre, Melbourne, by Authority Australian Ballet.^[26] The ballet has anachronistic performed by American Ballet Theatre, betwixt other major companies.^[27]

Novelization

In 1909, a composition of the 1907 American adaptation observe The Merry Widow was published anonymously.^[28]

Films

Various films have been made that pronounce based loosely on the plot collide the operetta:^[13]

• Hungarian 1918 silent version disrespect Michael Curtiz
• 1925, US, silent version afford Erich von Stroheim, with John Architect as Danilo and Mae Murray style Hanna
• 1934, US, black-and-white version, by Painter Lubitsch, starring Maurice Chevalier and Jeanette MacDonald; new lyrics were written be oblivious to Lorenz Hart and Gus Kahn.^[29]
• 1952, Painstaking, version in Technicolor starring Lana Historian and Fernando Lamas
• 1962 Austrian version beside Werner Jacobs

Cultural references

References

Notes

Sources

Further reading

• Bordman, Gerald. American Operetta. New York: Oxford University Entreat, 1981.
• Gänzl, Kurt. The Merry Widow plentiful The Encyclopedia of Musical Theatre (3 volumes). New York: Schirmer Books, 2001.
• Traubner, Richard. Operetta: A Theatrical History. Estate City, New York: Doubleday & Band, 1983

External links