Lehar: Merry Widow
Kunzel/Mansouri/San Francisco Opera
Naxos/BBC/Opus Arte DVD

5 stars

A Sumptuous 'Widow' in English from the San Francisco Opera

This DVD from the 2001 San Francisco Opera has so many things going for
it that the only tiny fault I can find with it is that it doesn't have
English subtitles (in fact, the only optional subtitles are in Spanish!).
One can understand 80% of what is said and sung, but one wants to
understand every word of it!

The mise en scene is enormously attractive.  It was the last production
done by Lotfi Mansouri, the SFO's long-time general director, and he is
quoted as saying he wanted to go out in style.  He certainly succeeded.
The sets by Michael Yeargan are gorgeous art nouveau scenes that make
you believe you are in fin de siecle Paris.  Perfect.  Mansouri's stage
business is funny and engaging.  It appears that no cost was spared in
the preparation of Thierry Bosquet's opulent costumes.

The principal singers couldn't be better.  Yvonne Kenny brings a lovely
voice, a glamorous stage presence and a subtle characterization to the
part of Anna Glawari, the merry widow.  Bo Skovhus, the handsome Danish
baritone, is known for his ringing voice, but it isn't so well-known
that he is a clever comic actor who can still make a believable lover
of Danilo.  He makes us glad we can accompany him to Maxime's.  Angelika
Kirchschlager, with that stunning mezzo voice and looks to match, is a
bewitchingly flirtatious Valencienne.  Njegus, sung and acted like a
demented Nathan Lane by Elijah Chester, brings the house down with his
interpolated 'Quite Parisian,' a number not in the original production
but later added by Lehar.  All the other named roles are well-taken and
too numerous to single out.  There is a charming and elaborate added
third-act ballet, commissioned by Mansouri to non-'Merry Widow' music
by Lehar, choreographed by Lawrence Pech.  Prize-winning playwright Wendy
Wasserstein supplied witty new dialog.  The lilting musical direction
is by that expert at 'light' music, Cincinnati's Erich Kunzel.

Extras include interviews with the principals, including Mansouri, that
add to the background of this particular production.  There is also a
synopsis on the DVD (as well as in the handsome included booklet).

This DVD makes the 1990 Joan Sutherland/Richard Bonynge/Opera Australia
DVD look tired indeed, and it is much better sung.  Yes, this is easily
the version to have.

My strongest recommendation.

Scott Morrison