PSU Opera opens delightful operetta 'The Merry Widow'

The cast of PSU Opera's The Merry Widow." Photo by Chad Lanning

Old love blossoms anew in Portland State Opera's spring production of Franz Lehár's beloved operetta, "The Merry Widow," which has captivated audiences for over a hundred years. "The Merry Widow" opens tonight, Friday, April 1,9 at 7:30 p.m. and runs through April 28, 2024.

Composed by Hungarian composer Franz Lehár, with libretto written by Viktor Léon and Leo Stein, "The Merry Widow" tells the story of the young widow Hanna Glawari and her second chance at love with the dashing Count Danilo Danilovitch. Divided by social standing, disapproving families, and Hanna's eventual marriage to another man, the two are reunited once more in the romantic city of Paris.

Recently widowed and the inheritor of a vast fortune, Hanna suddenly finds herself swept up in the political machinations of Baron Zeta from the fictional country Pontevedro. Zeta wants to keep Hanna's newfound money within his cash-strapped nation, so he introduces her to Count Danilo, hoping the two will hit it off and marry. Unbeknownst to the Baron, however, Hanna and Danilo had met and fell in love when they were younger, before parting in heartbreak due to their different social standings. What follows their reunion is the classic tale of falling in love all over again amidst hilarious hijinks, face-palming misunderstandings, and the nosy members of the upper echelons of society.

Audience members will enjoy this classic tale of love and merriment told anew. Bringing the original Belle Epoque setting forward in time, PSU Opera's rendition reimagines the story in the glitz and glam of the early 1960s, with an old-school Hollywood feel. The operetta will be sung in English and accompanied by the PSU Orchestra as the young performers dazzle audience members with energetic dances, delightful melodies, and vibrant colors.

"This opera may seem to be embracing outdated, traditional gender roles," said Kelley Nassief, "but it was actually ahead of its time. It's a celebration of a strong woman who knows what she wants, stands up to the challenges of a male-dominated society, and chooses love on her own terms. And its catchy, memorable melodies will have audiences humming all the way home."

Viktor Léon and Leo Stein originally wrote "The Merry Widow" based on a comedic French play called "L'attaché d'ambassade," written in 1861 by Henri Meilhac. The duo originally commissioned Richard Heuberger, who had composed the operetta "Der Opernball," to compose "The Merry Widow." However, when the pair found themselves unsatisfied with his work, Wilhelm Karczag, the manager of the Theater an der Wien, pointed them in the direction of Lehár.

Franz Lehár drew from his Austro-Hungarian roots and his knowledge of traditional eastern European music to compose "The Merry Widow," combining elements of the waltz, Slavic folk, and Parisian dances such as the high-energy, physically demanding can-can dance. His masterful weaving of various music and dance styles breathed new life into the genre and set off a popular craze for everything "Merry Widow," even inspiring the popularity of the iconically large and elaborate Edwardian hats.

Dan Wallace Miller has joined PSU Opera as the stage director for "The Merry Widow." Miller has directed on numerous operatic stages, including a new production he created of Susannah for the Wolf Trap Opera and the University of Oklahoma, a new production of Gounod's Roméo et Juliette for Central City Opera, and La Traviata for Inland Northwest Opera. Other credits include San Francisco Opera, Washington National Opera, Opera Colorado, and The Atlanta Opera.

For this production, Miller will be collaborating with PSU Opera's accomplished creative team, including Kelley Nassief, artistic director; Dr. Chuck Dillard, music director; Ken Selden, conductor; Kayla Scrivner, technical director; Peggie Schwarz, stage manager; Kallin Leenhouts, assistant stage manager/assistant director; Candace Frank, costume designer; Carey Wong, set designer; Peter West, lighting designer; and Sumi Wu, prop master.

About Portland State Opera

Established in 1977, Portland State University Opera is a world-class professional training ground for students in the vocal arts, and one of few in the United States that offers both undergraduate and graduate students opportunities to take on leading roles in full-scale opera productions. Alumni of PSU's vocal arts program have established professional careers with roles on Broadway, the Metropolitan Opera and beyond.

If You Go

Performances of "The Merry Widow" will take place as follows:

When:
Friday, April 19, 2024, 7:30 p.m. Sunday, April 21, 2024, 3:00 p.m. Saturday, April 27, 2024, 7:30 p.m. Sunday, April 28, 2024, 3:00 p.m.

Where:
Lincoln Performance Hall (LH 175) 1620 SW Park Ave Portland, OR 97201

Run time is approximately three hours, with one intermission. Pre-show talks will be held one hour before the start of each performance.

Tickets ($45 general, $30 senior [65 and over], $20 student, $40 group ticket [10 tickets or more]) may be purchased at the PSU Box Office (pdx.edu/boxoffice) or by calling 503-725-3307.

More information:
Learn more at https://www.pdx.edu/music-theater/merry-widow.