Renée Fleming Stars in a New Production of The Merry Widow,
Directed and Choreographed by Susan Stroman and
Opening on New Year’s Eve
Renée Fleming will add a new role to her extensive repertory when she sings her first-ever performances of Hanna Glawari, the title role in Lehár’s The Merry Widow, at the Met this season. Four-time Tony Award winner Susan Stroman makes her Met debut as director and choreographer of a new production of the comic operetta, in which a wealthy widow’s countrymen launch a romantic plot to keep her—and her tax dollars—within their borders. Highlights of the score include the familiar “Vilja Song” for the title character as well as a climactic song-and-dance set piece featuring a chorus line of grisettes at the legendary Parisian restaurant Maxim’s. Sir Andrew Davis conducts a cast that also includes Broadway star Kelli O’Hara in her Met debut in the comic role of Valencienne, Nathan Gunn as the handsome Danilo, Alek Shrader as Camille, and Thomas Allen as Baron Zeta. The Merry Widow will be performed in a new English translation by Jeremy Sams and will feature set design by Julian Crouch, costume design by William Ivey Long in his Met debut, and lighting design by Paule Constable. The January 17 matinee performance will be transmitted worldwide as part of the Met’s Live in HD series, which now reaches more than 1,900 movie theaters in 69 countries around the world.
Performances: December 31, January 3, 6, 9, 13, 17 (mat), 20, 23, 28, 31, April 24, 27, 30, May 7. Curtain times vary: complete schedule here. Running time: 2 hours, 30 minutes, including one intermission.
Tickets begin at $25; for prices, more information, or to place an order, please call (212) 362-6000 or visit www.metopera.org. Special rates for groups of 10 or more are available by calling (212) 341-5410 or visiting www.metopera.org/groups.
Same-day $25 rush tickets for all performances of The Merry Widow are available on a first-come, first-served basis on the Met’s Web site. Tickets will go on sale for performances Monday-Friday at noon, matinees four hours before curtain, and Saturday evenings at 2pm. To enter, click here.
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