STORY
Paris. At the legation of the small Eastern European country Pontevedro, the minister Baron Zeta is worried during a banquet celebrating the King's birthday. If Hanna Glawari, a widow who inherited her deceased husband’s enormous fortune, marries a foreigner, it means Pontevedro's fortune will flow abroad and the country will go bankrupt. Baron Zeta plans to prevent her property from leaking, by getting her back together with her old boyfriend Danilo. Hanna and Danilo meet again. However, the two are stubborn and cannot easily come close to each other.
The next day's evening party at Hanna's house. Hanna and Danilo gradually open their hearts. Meanwhile, Baron Zeta's wife Valencienne is secretly meeting with Camille, a playboy in Paris. Just before being found out by baron, quick-witted Hanna replaced Valencienne and appeared with Camille. Strangely then, she announces her engagement with Camille!
Will they see a national crisis or a happy ending?! What is the end of the festivities over romance and money?
Incredibly MERRY!
HPAC’s unique “Merry Widow” will be revised more powerful!
"Merry Widow" at the Hyogo Performing Arts Center is characterized by its thorough entertainment that is typical of Kansai region. It is an "operetta that can only be performed in Hyogo" and a monumental work that artistic director Yutaka Sado is proud of, with a sparkling scenes like Takarazuka Revue, a great leader of regional performing arts and with elements of regional comedy.
The driving force of the show is Isao Hirowatari, a stage director who knows all about the entertainment industry. And the stylish stage set by Simon Holdsworth, who was born in London and is active in Germany, and the gorgeous costumes by Steve Almerighi from Italy, which have the atmosphere in Paris around 1900, will instantly capture your hearts!
Casting is also fantastic! The heroine Hanna is played by two prima donnas who have both marvelous voices and gorgeousness; rising star Yurie Takano, who is debuting at HPAC, and Hisami Namikawa, a leading soprano of Japan! Danilo is played by Yuki Kuroda, an up-and-coming baritone, and Daisuke Oyama, who succeeded the role of Danilo in the 2008 production. The singers together with who succeeded past HPAC’s opera productions and who debut this time will play exquisite ensembles together. In addition, Bunshi Katsura, a leading comedian in Kansai, and Tatsuki Koju, a former top star of the Takarazuka Revue, will make the production more glamorous.
The challenge of 2021 to renew the best entertainment while thoroughly taking measures against COVID-19 infection. Based on the achievements of HPAC’s opera series over the past 15 years and the recent breakthroughs in the Japanese opera scene, we will create a new "supreme Merry Widow"!
