Yvonne Kenny (Anna Glawari); Bo Skovhus (Count Danilo Danilovitsch); Angelika Kirchschlager (Valencienne); Gregory Turay (Camille, Count de Rosillon);
Lotfi Mansouri's spectacular last production as General Director of The San Francisco Opera with Yvonne Kenny making her debut in the title role, new dialogue specially commissioned from Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright, Wendy Wasserstein and an original ballet to set the scene Chez Maxime bringing fresh insight into Lehár's classic operetta. This production also features another world premiere, Njeguss song, Quite Parisian.
Filmed in High Definition.
Reviews "It would be hard to imagine a more extravagant production of The Merry Widow than Lofti Mansouri's for the San Francisco Opera, recorded live on this DVD in December 2001...Yvonne Kenny as the heroine not only sings beautifully but is both vivacious and provocative. Bo Skovhus makes a handsome Danilo, determined not to be putty in her hands, and their final reconciliation to the Merry Widow Waltz could not be more moving." (The Penguin Guide)
"Rarely does the opera stage fill the small screen so lavishly." (Philadelphia Enquirer)
"Michael Yeargans glamorous and beautifully-wrought designs and Thierry Bosquets extravagant costumes. We see all too little of this kind of splendour in these cash-strapped days." (Opera)
"Recorded live in San Fransisco in December 2001, this is about as lavish a production of Franz Lehárs adorable operetta as you are ever likely to see...soprano Yvonne Kenny is perfectly cast in the title role." (Classic FM)
Extra features Impressions - Lotfi Mansouri, Yvonne Kenny, Bo Skovhus, Angelika Kirchschlager and Gregory Turay discuss The Merry Widow. Illustrated booklet with an essay by Camille Crittenden examining what insight the Merry Widow gives into womens roles in fin-de-siecle Vienna. Illustrated Synopsis and Cast gallery.
