THE MERRY WIDOW BY F. LEHAR

NEW MUSIC PRODUCTION AT MADLENIANUM

OPERETTA THE MERRY WIDOW BY F. LEHAR

PREMIERE – 13 FEBRUARY 2020

Who is a mystical widow Hanna Glawari, why everybody wants her attention and her money, why her old love, Count Danilo Danilovitsch, does not want to tell her that he loves her and what does the king of Montenegro have to do with it and a scandalous fan as well – you will find out in the greatest operetta spectacle of the region – THE MERRY WIDOW!    

The Opera & Theatre Madlenianum steps into the 2020 with the hilarious musical comedy which will leave nobody indifferent and which guaranties that the audience will be on the edge of their seats from the first till last minute. The supreme music of Franz Lehár, beautiful and memorable tunes which are the classics of the musical theatre, breath-taking choreography, sharp and hilariously funny dialogues and situations, the luxurious costumes and the monumental set design – all these is a part of this cultural treat under the baton of Vesna Souc and directed by Robert Boskovic.  

This classic piece tells the story of a rich widow who comes from Montenegro and arrives at the grand embassy ball in Paris, where she is courted by many French wooers. On the other hand, the Ambassador Zeta has no intention of letting strangers get hold of the widow's fortune and his only ace in the hole is the Count Danilo, the widow's former fiancé, who spends days and nights at the Parisian nightclub Maxim surrounded by numerous cheerful girls and as far as he is concerned, becoming a part of the Ambassador’s plans is out of the question. Of course, there are plenty of love conundrums and misunderstandings, unfaithful wives and stupid husbands, but also the magical world of cabaret Paris.

The Merry Widow, with its premiere on 13 February 2020 and the first revival on 20 February in Madlenianum, brings something what no other performance has brought before. Keeping the charm of the original story, this version even further plays with the contemporary dynamics of theatrical storytelling, brings new scenes and enhances the cabaret atmosphere, making it suitable for all generations eager for laughter, good music and dance, as well as theatrical pleasure.

A part of the creative team on this great project comes from neighbouring Croatia and is pleased to bring its own theatrical experiences in synergy with the team of Belgrade theatre Madlenianum, which has the largest theatres performances in the region. The set design is signed by Vesna Rezic, costume design by Duska Nesic, a choreographer is Milica Cerovic. A large ensemble is being chosen these days at auditions where a large number of candidates have applied for, over 130, most of whom are actors!

From the playful can-can to the emotional love duets, from the big lavish ball to the comic scene in swimsuits, from the hilarious conundrums to replicas that will be spoken about long after the operetta is seen – all these brings us THE MERRY WIDOW - the latest spectacle of the Theatre Madlenianum!