LEHAR: Lustige Witwe (Die) (NTSC)

From the Opera House Zurich
Operetta in three acts
Sung in German; Based on the comedy L'Attaché d'ambassade by Henri Meilhac

Dagmar Schellenberger, Rodney Gilfry, Ute Gfrerer, Piotr Beczala, Rudolf A. Hartmann, Herbert Prikopa
Orchestra, Choir and Statistenverein of the Opera House Zurich, Franz Welser-Möst
Stage Production by Helmut Lohner

Sound Format: PCM Stereo, Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS 5.1
Picture Format: 16:9
Region Code: 0 worldwide
Menu Languages: D, F, GB, SP
Subtitle Languages: D, F, GB, JP, SP
Running Time: 125 mins
DVD 9/ NTSC

Cat no.:100 451

The music of Franz Lehar comes to Arthaus this month with his tour de force, the glorious comedy The Merry Widow.

To save the billions belonging to the young and attractive widow Hanna Glawari for his country Pontevedro, Baron Zeta commands the charming womanizer Count Danilo Danilowitsch to carry out his patriotic duty in marrying the widow. What the baron cannot have known is that Danilo and Hanna already had a relationship in the past…

This captivating production glides along with a twinkle in its eye, brought to life by director Helmut Lohner. The opulent set (mainly designed in red and gold) provides the setting for elegant costumes mixing traditional costumes and Parisian evening attire, while the handsome pairing of Dagmar Schellenberger and Rodney Gilfry provides a wonderfully tongue-in-cheek portrayal of the widow and her suitor. Franz Welser-Möst is at the helm, guiding us through Lehár's music.

"[Gilfry] is an extraordinarily talented young man blessed with a real flair for the stage, a sophisticated sense of style and appealing vocal resources. He is, moreover, an artist who actually can exude charm without being arch about it." Martin Bernheimer, Los Angeles Times, October 13, 1994

"Baritone Rodney Gilfry danced and sang Danilo as if fashioned from pure air - so much so as to out-twinkle his Widow." Alan Rich, Opera News, March 2002

"Dagmar Schellenberger has a pleasingly full-toned and creamy soprano voice with good legato and extension at each end. She has graduated through the classic Mozartian lyric soprano parts, essayed the three female roles in 'Hoffman', and with her capacity for expression and nuance, as exhibited here, can look forward to an expanding career in heavier roles. I shall be looking out for her name in the theatre and on disc." MusicWeb