SYNOPSIS

Note: There are several different versions of The Merry Widow, and local productions often further adapt them with local references. While the music and basic plot is the same, the spoken words and even some of the lyrics, actions and minor plot twists may be quite different. Therefore, the synopsis below gives the general outline without the subplots or other specifics.

Background:
The action takes place in Paris at the turn of the twentieth century. Marsovia (Pontevedro in the original German version) is a fictional small Balkan Country which is in serious financial trouble. Some time before the beginning of the story, Hanna, the daughter of a poor tenant farmer, and Danilo Danilovitch, a young aristocrat, had been in love. However, his noble uncle has refused to allow them to marry. So, to save her debt-ridden father, she married the elderly Court Banker, Glavari who conveniently died soon after the wedding leaving her a very merry, and wealthy, widow. Her fortune of millions is the underpinning of the Marsovian economy and, if she remarries anyone but another Marsovian, her fortune will leave the country with her new husband.

ACT I: The Marsovian Embassy
A grand celebration is in progress, led by the ambassador, Baron Zeta, to celebrate the birthday of the ruler of Marsovia. All are awaiting the arrival of the widow, Hanna Glavari, the young Frenchmen in particular who are vying to become her new husband. Among the guests is Camille de Rosillon, a Frenchman who is in love with Valencienne, Zeta's wife. Although she is very attracted to him and does flirt, she tries very hard to remain faithful to her husband. Not knowing of de Rosillon's attraction to his wife, Zeta fears he is the one who might win Hanna and her fortune. To prevent this, he has decided that Danilo, the Marsovian attaché is the one to marry the widow. Unfortunately, the young man is off enjoying himself at Maxim's, instead of attending the party.

Hanna arrives and is immediately surrounded by her would-be suitors. After all adjourn to another room, Danilo appears, obviously tipsy, but answering his call to do his duty for the Fatherland, not knowing what Zeta has in mind for him. He falls asleep only to be awakened by the entrance of Hanna. They recall their past, but he vows never to say he loves her for fear she will think he is just after her millions. On her part, she vows to make him say it; they declare war and leave. When Danilo returns, Baron Zeta informs him of his task for the Fatherland, namely, to woo and marry Hanna and her millions, he refuses to marry her himself but promises to help by chasing all the other men away.

Finale: A 'Ladies Choice' dance is announced. All vie for Hanna's bid but she chooses Danilo. In return he tries to auction his right as her partner for ten thousand francs. The price is so high the other men turn away and they end up waltzing together after all. It is the opening salvo in their war and his first tactic to discourage the others.

ACT II: The garden of Hanna's mansion, the next evening
A Marsovian party is in progress. All are dressed in their respective national costumes and dance a Kolo. Then Hanna sings a song about the wood nymph, Vilia*. Danilo is not present, having once again gone off to Maxim's and his grisettes. Suddenly he appears, dressed as a cavalry officer, assures Zeta he has been busy discouraging the other men, and tells Hanna he has been purposely avoiding her. The men discuss what they would do if their wives deceived them and sing about the trouble with women.

Hanna and Danilo remain alone. When she asks him what he has been up to, to cause the other men to leave, he admits he has been discouraging them. She asks his advice on whom she should marry, but he still refuses to take the bait and say he loves her. She tells him she has decided to become a Parisianne but would like to have a little fun first. He tells her about Maxim's, they dance off, and Zeta appears. He has received a dispatch from Marsovia urging him to expedite the matter of the Glavari millions. After he leaves, Valencienne and Camille enter still engaged in their flirtation and, seen by Njegus, enter the summer house at the back of the stage. When Zeta enters Njegus and Danilo try to prevent him from looking in the summerhouse. However, Zeta persists and to the surprise of all, when the door is opened, Camille exits with - Hanna!
Finale: Hanna announces they are engaged. Although he is boiling inside, Danilo puts on a show of bravado, pretending he doesn't care. He sings a song of two royal children who were in love, obviously meaning themselves. When fate stepped between them, the had Princess. turned to another leaving the Prince seething with anger. Danilo then leaves and Hanna exults; he loves her after all!

ACT III: Hanna's mansion, decorated to duplicate Maxim's, later that night
The guests are seated at tables watching the dancers. The grisettes and Valencienne perform a can-can, but the gaiety is interrupted when another dispatch is brought announcing the immanent bankruptcy of Marsovia. Danilo vows to help and, when Hanna appears, he forbids her to marry Camille. She asks if he does that because he still loves her, confesses she merely switched with another woman in the summerhouse, and says the 'engagement' is off. When he still refuses to admit he loves her, Hanna then announces to all that if she remarries, no matter to whom, all her money will become the property of her new husband, and she lose everything. An ecstatic Danilo can now admit he loves her, and they dance to the strains of the famous Merry Widow waltz.

Note: There are a number of subplots which are not included above. The most important one is based on Valencienne's fan. Camille had written "I love you" on it and she loses it. Danilo finds it, recognizes Camille's handwriting, but he doesn't know the owner and starts a search. At one point Danilo leaves it on a table, Hanna finds it, and thinks Danilo is the one who has written "I love you" and left it for her to find instead of saying it to her. She leaves the fan, Camille finds it, and he returns it to Valencienne who leaves it in the summerhouse where it is later found..

Vilias are Slavic nymphs. They live in mountains and woods, entice hunters and change shape into other creatures. In some myths they are the souls of dead girls. They are related to the Italian villi, the subject of Puccini's first opera.

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Revised September 2006
Please credit Lyric Opera San Diego when using this material.