The famous operetta The Merry Widow returns to the Tyl Theatre in Plzeň with a new cast

Plzeň – Plzeň Theatre J. K. Tyla will present on Saturday, June 13th, at the New Stage a revived premiere of one of the most famous operettas of all time – The Merry Widow by Franz Lehár. The production, which premiered in February 2019, will feature new performers in the main roles. The tried-and-true title will be directed by the theater's director Martin Otava, who also translated and adapted the spoken texts; the musical preparation of the renewed production was done by the head of the opera ensemble Jiří Petrdlík, the theater informed today in a press release.

The Merry Widow, which had its premiere in Vienna in 1905, was Lehár's first international success. According to Otava, it belongs to the few operettas whose libretto still stands up to audiences in the 21st century and whose productions are not avoided by renowned opera houses. The story of the wealthy widow Hanna Glawari, whose affection is sought not only by her former love, Count Danilo, but also by several other suitors, is accompanied by famous melodies including the Vilja Song and Women, Women. Its story, set in Paris in 1905, is immensely theatrical, lacking neither an important plot twist nor witty dialogues, according to Otava.

In Plzeň, The Merry Widow was performed for the first time in 1907 and it has never disappeared from the repertoire for long. The last production, which the theater is now reviving, was created in 2019 in co-production with the Karlín Musical Theatre. The main roles were played and sung by Lívie Obručník Vénosová and Michal Bragagnolo, who also appeared at the open-air performance of the operetta last June in the Lochotín amphitheater. They will now be joined in the main roles by Soňa Godarská and successful Plzeň native Daniel Kfelíř. In the role of the embassy secretary Njeguš, Plzeň actor Jaroslav Matějka will join Dalibor Gondík.

"I am glad that we are returning to The Merry Widow with new interpreters in the main roles. The operetta primarily relies on personalities, and I look forward to the fantastic original cast being complemented by the energy of Soňa Godarská and Daniel Kfelíř," added Otava.

The elaborate visual design was created by scenographer Lukáš Kuchinka and costume designer Dana Haklová, who drew inspiration from the aesthetics of Art Nouveau and Art Deco.