The Merry Widow Story Guide
The Merry Widow is an Operetta in three acts. First performed at the Theatre an der Wein, Vienna on 30th December, 1905. The First performance at the Eden Court Theatre was on 29th June 1976 performed by Scottish Opera - the first production to grace the stage of this theatre when it was newly opened.
The operetta is set in Paris at the turn of the last century. The subject of the operetta, Madame Glavari, has recently become a widow, when her elderly, rich husband died. Because of her beauty, and perhaps also her wealth, she is once again one of the most desirable Pontevedrian women. Baron Zeta, the Pontevedrian ambassador in Paris is concerned that the Glavari millions may be lost to the fatherland. If she were to marry a foreigner the fatherland would be financially ruined. Baron Zeta's mission is to ensure that madam Glavari's fortune stays in Pontevedro and the man for the job is count Danilovitsch. But Danilo as he is known to his friends is much more interested in 'les belle grisettes' who dance at Maxim's night club - though he had previously had affections for Anna Glavari before she married the wealthy, elderly banker. For the fatherland, and to save Pontevedro from bankruptcy, Danilo reluctantly agrees to do his duty.
Inverness Opera Company has performed the show twice before in 1960 and 1984.
