Royal College of Music opera: Franz Lehár's 'The merry widow'
Synopsis
The 2023 Andrea Bocelli Foundation-Community Jameel scholars Henna Mun and Anastasia Koorn star in Franz Lehár's 'The merry widow' on 11-16 March 2024 at the Royal College of Music (RCM) in London.
Soprano Henna Mun performs as wealthy young widow Hanna Glawari, who is set to remarry to keep her riches within the poverty-stricken Balkan province of Pontevedro. When she encounters her ex, Count Danilo, with his appetite for wine and women, misunderstandings and comedic misadventure abound.
Mezzo-soprano Anastasia Koorn is Praskowia, the wife of Pritschitsch, a retired colonel and the embassy consul for Pontevedro. A proud, formidable woman, she clings to the values of old money, and with her troupe established women looks down on Hanna and attempts to thwart the young widow's romantic affairs.
Henna and Anastasia are 2023 recipients of the Andrea Bocelli Foundation-Community Jameel scholarship at the RCM, which supports their studies at the RCM's world-renowned opera studio. Launched in 2019, the scholarship is awarded to talented musicians chosen both on merit assessed at audition and their need for support to overcome barriers and access world-class training at the college.
Participants
Henna Mun
Anastasia Koorn
Organisers
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About the event
Be transported to glistening, extravagant 1920s Paris with Franz Lehár’s most celebrated operetta, performed by talented singers of the RCM Opera Studio.
Wealthy young widow Hanna Glawari is set to remarry to keep her riches within the poverty-stricken Balkan province of Pontevedro. When she encounters her ex, Count Danilo, with his appetite for wine and women, misunderstandings and comedic misadventure abound.
The young widow's quest for love is played out against a backdrop of champagne fuelled parties, and the decadent Parisian nightclub – Chez Maxims. A roaring success after its premiere in 1905, Franz Lehár's uplifting operetta features the instantly recognisable 'Vilja Song' and 'Merry Widow Waltz', both staples of the opera canon.
Please note that this production contains some mild adult themes and scenes of smoking. Parental discretion is advised for children. The performance will also use haze.
Libretto by Viktor Léon and Leo Stein
Music by Franz Lehár
This production will be sung in German, with English dialogue translation by Jeremy Sams
English translation used by arrangement with Josef Weinberger Limited
In the media
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