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Overview

Synopsis

Hanna Glawari, recently widowed multi-millionairess, and citizen of Pontevedro, has suitors vying for her hand from every angle. It seems the only eligible bachelor that is not interested in her is Count Danilo Danilowitsch. After his family called off their engagement years before, because she was too poor, she had hoped that her wealth might now bring them together. How can she capture the heart of this man who seems only interested in drinking champagne and watching the girls at Maxim’s bar?

Filled with romantic trysts, lively dance numbers, and the famous ‘Song of Vilja’, it is no surprise that Lehár’s operetta Die lustige Witwe remains one of the most popular in the operatic canon today.

Show Information

Music
Franz Lehár
Libretto
Viktor Léon , Leo Stein
Based on the Play/Book/Film
L'attaché d'ambassade (The Embassy Attaché) by Henri Meilhac
Category
Operetta
Age Guidance
Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
Number of Acts
3
First Produced
1905
Genres
Comedy, Romance
Settings
Period, Multiple Settings
Time & Place
Paris, 1900, 20th century
Cast Size
large
Orchestra Size
Large
Dancing
Some Dance
Licensor
None/royalty-free
Ideal For
College/University, Professional Opera, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Mature Adult, Young Adult, Adult, Elderly Characters, Large Cast

Context

Plot

Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Baron Mirko Zeta

Lead

Male

Baritone

Hanna Glawari

Lead

Female

Soprano

Camille de Rosillon

Lead

Male

Tenor

Valencienne

Lead

Female

Soprano

Count Danilo Danilovitsch

Lead

Male

Tenor, Baritone

Raoul de St. Brioche

Supporting

Male

Tenor

Vicomte Cascada

Supporting

Male

Baritone

Njegus

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Bogdanowitsch

Featured

Male

Baritone

Sylviane

Featured

Female

Mezzo-Soprano

Kromow

Featured

Male

Baritone

Olga

Featured

Female

Mezzo-Soprano

Praškowia

Featured

Female

Mezzo-Soprano

Pritschitsch

Featured

Male

Baritone

Grisettes

Ensemble

Female

Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Contralto

Chorus

Ensemble

Either Gender

Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Tenor, Baritone, Bass, Contralto

Songs

Below is a breakdown of the musical numbers in this operetta. As with all operetta, these are accompanied with dialogue between the numbers, which is not specified below, and often changes between productions.

Act One - In a Salon of the Pontevedrian Embassy

No. 1 Introduction ‘Verehrteste Damen und Herren’ - Valencienne, Sylviane, Olga, Praškowia, Camille, St. Brioche, Zeta, Cascada, Kromow, Chorus

No.2 Duet ‘So kommen Sie’ - Valencienne, Camille

No. 3 Entrance of Hanna and Ensemble ‘Bitte, meine Herren’ and Mazurka ‘Hab’ in Paris mich noch nicht ganz’ - Hanna, St. Brioche, Cascasa, Men’s Chorus

No. 4 Auftrittslied ‘O Vaterland’ - Danilo

No. 5 Duet (The Magic of Domesticity) ‘Ja, was - ein trautes Zimmerlien’ - Valencienne, Camille

No. 6 Finale I ‘Damenwahl’ - Hanna, Valencienne, Danilo, Camille, St. Brioche, Cascada, Chorus

Act Two - A Day later, in the Palace of Hanna Glawari

No. 7 Introduction, Dance ‘Ich bitte, hier jetzt zu verweilen’ and

Song of Vilja (The song of the wood-maiden) 'Es lebt eine Vilja'- Hanna, Chorus

No. 8 Duet (Song of the foolish rider) ‘Heia, Mädel, aufgeschaut’ - Hanna, Danilo

No. 9 March-Septett ‘Wie die Wieber man behnadelt’ - Danilo, Zeta, St. Brioche, Cascada, Kromow, Bogdanowitsch, Pritschitsch

No. 10 Game Scene and Dance Duet - Hanna, Danilo

No. 11 Duet 'Mein Freund, Vernunft’ and Romance ‘Wie eine Rosenknospe’ - Valencienne, Camille

No. 12 Finale II ‘Ha! Ha! Wir fragen’ - Hanna, Valencienne, Sylviane, Olga, Praškowia, Danilo, Camille, Zeta, Bogdanowitsch, Kromow, Pritschitsch, Njegus, Chorus

No. 12a Entr’akt (Song of Vilja)

Act Three - In Hanna Glawari’s Palace

No. 12b Zwischenspiel

No. 13 Dance Scene

No. 14 Grisette’s Song ‘Ja, wir sind es, die Grisetten’ - Valencienne, Lolo, Dodo, Jou-Jou, Frou-Frou, Clo-Clo, Margot (Grisettes), Danilo, Zeta, Bogdanowitsch, Pritschitsch, Kromow, Chorus

No. 15 Duet ‘Lippen schweigen’ - Hanna, Danilo

No. 16 Final Scene ‘Ja, das Studium der Weiber’ - Tutti

A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.

Monologues

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Scenes

All scenes are the property and copyright of their owners. Scenes are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this scene, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

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Guide Written By:

Wendy Silvester

Wendy Silvester

Singer and vocal coach based in the UK.