The Merry Widow – Live in HD (Blu-ray) – Met Opera

The great Renée Fleming stars as the beguiling femme fatale who captivates all Paris in Lehár’s enchanting operetta, seen in a new staging by Broadway virtuoso director and choreographer Susan Stroman (The Producers, Oklahoma!, Contact).

Stroman and her design team have created an art-nouveau setting that climaxes with singing and dancing grisettes at the legendary Maxim’s. Nathan Gunn co-stars as Danilo with Kelli O’Hara as Valencienne and Alek Shrader as Camille. Andrew Davis conducts.

Franz Lehár’s The Merry Widow

Franz Lehár’s most popular work—a lighthearted comedy full of memorable melodies—has been an international hit ever since its 1905 world premiere in Vienna. Based on a French play and set in Paris, it tells the story of a wealthy widow whose millions are desperately needed to save her bankrupt home country, the fictional Balkan nation of Pontevedro. The Met first presented The Merry Widow in 2000. A new production premieres on New Year’s Eve 2014.