Franz Lehar Operetta The Merry Widow

Classical Music Datebook: December 30 

 Lehar's "The Merry Widow" premiered December 30, 1905, in Vienna, Austria.

The Merry Widow (Die lustige Witwe) is an operetta, a romantic musical comedy by Austro-Hungarian composer Franz Lehar. The librettists, Victor Leon and Leo Stein,  based the story about a rich widow, Hanna Glawari, and her attempt to find a husband, on an 1861 comedy play, L'attache d'ambassade (The Ambassador's Attache) by Henri Meilhac.

It was first performed at the Theater an der Wien in Vienna on 30 December 1905 and had several very successful productions in Austria and Germany. In its English adaptation by Basil Hood, with lyrics by Adrian Ross, the show became a sensation in London in 1907 and opened a few months later on Broadway for a very successful run. Thereafter, it was played frequently in America and throughout the English speaking world.

 

Operetta in three acts with libretto by Viktor Léon and Leo Stein at the Semperoper Dresden.

 

Franz Lehár - The Merry Widow (Die lustige Witwe) "The Queen of Operattas" | Act 1 

 

Franz Lehár - The Merry Widow (Die lustige Witwe) "The Queen of Operattas" | Act 2 

 

Franz Lehár - The Merry Widow (Die lustige Witwe) "The Queen of Operattas" | Act 3

 

Gunther Emmerlich - Baron Mirko Zeta

Lydia Teuscher - Valencienne

Bo Skovhus - Count Danilo Danilovitsch

Petra-Maria Schnitzer - Anna Blawari

Jérôme Savary - stage director

Manfred Honeck - conductor

Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden

 

 

(Note:  Apology I can't embed the videos due to copyright reasons. YouTube, uploaded by EuroArtsChannel. Accessed December 30, 2022. 

 

(c)  December 2014. Updated December 30, 2022. Tel.  Inspired Pen Web.  All rights reserved.  

Leonard Bernstein's Candide

Classical Music Datebook: January 26

Candide is an operetta composed by Leonard Bernstein. It is based on the 1759 novella of the same name by Voltaire.  

Voltaire's Candide (Book), briefly.  In the German town of Westphalia, Candide, a young man, lives in the castle of Baron of Thunder-ten-tronckh.  A noted philosopher, Doctor Pangloss, tutors the baron on philosophical optimism, the idea that "all is for the best . . . in this best of all worlds." Candide, a simple man, first accepts this philosophy, but as he experiences poverty, the horrors of war, the maliciousness of man, and the hypocrisy of the church, he begins to doubt the voracity of philosopher Pangloss's theory. Voltaire's Candide satirical book focuses on philosophical optimism.  Anti-war and anti-church sentiments also run throughout the novel.

Broadway's Original Production, 1956. Candide was first performed on Broadway as a musical on December 1, 1956 at the Martin Beck Theatre. The libretto was by Lillian Hellman. The primary lyricist was the Richard Wilbur. There were other contributors to the text including John Latouche, Dorothy Parker, Lillian Hellman, Stephen Sondheim, and Leonard Bernstein himself.  This premiere production was directed by Tyrone Guthrie and conducted by Samuel Krachmalnick. The sets and costumes were designed by Oliver Smith and Irene Sharaff, respectively, and choreographed by Anna Sokolow. Candide's main characters featured included: Candide (Robert Rounseville), Cunégonde (Barbara Cook), Dr. Pangloss (Max Adrian), The Old Lady (Irra Petina).  The arias were: Candide: Act I. Glitter and Be Gay. This production was a box office disaster, running only two months for a total of 73 performances.




Candide Overture incorporates tunes from the songs "The Best of All Possible Worlds," "Battle Music," "Oh, Happy We," "Glitter and Be Gay" and melodies composed specifically for the overture.



New York Production, 1957. After a successful first concert performance on January 26, 1957, conducted by the composer himself with the New York Philharmonic, Candide's overture quickly became popular and has earned a place in the classical music orchestral repertoire, performed by nearly 100 other orchestras within the next two years. It has then achieved enormous popularity. In 1987, it was the most often performed piece of concert music by Bernstein. 


TRIVIA: 

Added, January 26, 2018.  Sydney Philharmonia Choirs will be performing Bernstein's Candide later this year, Saturday 29 September at 8pm and Sunday 30 September at 1pm.  Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House. More details about this in another post ---  Added, March 23, 2018.  Sydney Philharmonia releases casting details for Candide. Added, Sept 30, 2018. SPC Program link: Sydney Philharmonia Choirs - Bernstein's Candide.

Video Credit:

Bernstein Candide Overture.  Broadway Revival Version (1974).  Youtube, uploaded by nickbigd, January 26, 2015.

Leonard Bernstein "Candide." (English Subtitles). Youtube, uploaded by karlmall. Accessed January 26, 2015.

Recommended Listening:

Leonard Bernstein's "Candide - BBC 1988. Youtube, uploaded by Freiderick Wolf. Accessed July 24, 2020.

Recommended Reading:

Candide by Voltaire: Plot Overview.  Spark Notes.

Candide: or, the Optimist. Part I. Leonard Bernstein at 100.  Accessed January 26, 2015.


Resources:

A Guide to Leonard Bernstein's Candide.  Compiled by Michael Hutchins.  Accessed January 26, 2015.

Candide.  Music Theatre Intl. (MTI). 1999 Version.  Accessed January 26, 2015.

Candide. Leonard Bernstein Website.  Accessed January 26, 2015.

Candide (Operetta). en. wikipedia.org. Accessed January 26, 2015.



(c) January 2015. Tel. Inspired Pen Web.  All rights reserved.