✕ ✕
Turning tips into memories
Login
Signup

You have reached the limit of free articles.


To enjoy unlimited access to Culture Whisper plus a pair of free tickets to a London event sign up for FREE.
Find out more about Culture Whisper


Sign up by Email or Facebook.

Please fix the following input errors:

  • dummy

Each week, we sent newsletters and communication featuring articles, our latest tickets invitations, and exclusive offers.

Occasional information about discounts, special offers and promotions.


OR
LOG IN

OR
  • LOG IN WITH FACEBOOK

Thanks for signing up to Culture Whisper.
Please check your inbox for a confirmation email and click the link to verify your account.



EXPLORE CULTURE WHISPER
✕ ✕
Turning tips into memories
Login
Signup

Please fix the following input errors:

  • dummy
Forgot your username or password?
Don't have an account? Sign Up

OR
  • LOG IN WITH FACEBOOK

If you click «Log in with Facebook» and are not a Culture Whisper user, you agree to our Terms & Conditions and to our Privacy Policy, which includes our Cookie Use

Turning tips into memories

Get started Login
  • Home
  • Going Out
    • Things to do
    • Food & Drink
    • Theatre
    • Visual Arts
    • Cinema
    • Kids
    • Festival
    • Gigs
    • Dance
    • Classical Music
    • Opera
    • Immersive
    • Talks
  • Staying In
    • TV
    • Books
    • Cook
    • Podcast
    • Design
    • Netflix
  • Life & Style
    • Beauty
    • Fashion
    • Gifting
    • Wellbeing
    • Lifestyle
    • Shopping
    • Jewellery
  • Explore
  • About us
  • Tickets
  • Membership
  • Get Started
  • Membership
  • Tickets
Get our exclusive content
+ choose a pair of free tickets from our edit of favourite events
Opera

The Merry Widow, Opera Holland Park

18 Jul 20 – 01 Aug 20, six performances

In Franz Lehár's comic opera a wealthy woman turns the tables on the men, but a country's future is at stake...

By Claudia Pritchard on 24/11/2019

A wealth woman attracts suitors aplenty in Opera Holland Park's The Merry Widow. Artwork: Rebecca Campbell
A wealth woman attracts suitors aplenty in Opera Holland Park's The Merry Widow. Artwork: Rebecca Campbell
The Merry Widow, Opera Holland Park The Merry Widow, Opera Holland Park Claudia Pritchard
Opera Holland Park showed off its comedy chops with a hilarious one-acter,Il Segretto di Susanna in 2019, and audiences can expect to settle in for more laughter with the third opera of the 2020 season.


The Merry Widow by Franz Lehár has been a favourite since it was first performed in 1905. The widow of the title is Hanna Glawari, the beautiful self-made bride of a wealthy man who has helpfully died early, making her the richest person in the little state of Pontevedro.


At the country's embassy in Paris, the ambassador desperately needs her to marry the embassy secretary Count Danilo, and so keep her money in their hard-up country. Hanna and Danilo have been lovers in the past; it should be easy. But Danilo does not want to appear to be marrying for money, and anyway, Hanna is having a (fake) affair with someone else.


Complications aplenty pile up in the best traditions of farce, until the unsurprisingly happy ending. But there is much fun to be had on the way, and hugely entertaining set-pieces in glamorous, all-singing, all-dancing Paris society.


Swedish soprano Julia Sporsén heads the cast as Hannah Glawari, with baritone Alex Otterburn, very droll as Pluto in English National Opera's Orpheus and Eurydice, sings Danilo. Alison Langer, who made a big impression on OHP audiences in 2019 with a trouser role in the five-star Un Ballo in Maschera, sings Valencienne, and the comic actor and bass-baritone John Savournin is Baron Zeta.


John Andrews conducts the City of London Sinfonia and all-important Opera Holland Park Chorus. Direction is by Christopher Luscombe with design by Simon Higlett, lighting by Mark Jonathan and choreography by Ewan Jones.


With translation and adaptation by Kit Hesketh Harvey and Giles Havergal, an evening of welcome frivolity is guaranteed.


The Merry Widow is sung in German with English surtitles. Performances are on 18, 22, 24, 28, 30 July; 1 Aug. General booking opens 10AM Wed 26 Feb


by Claudia Pritchard

What The Merry Widow, Opera Holland Park
Where Opera Holland Park, Stable Yard, Holland Park, London , W8 6LU | MAP
Nearest tube High Street Kensington (underground)
When 18 Jul 20 – 01 Aug 20, six performances
Price £TBC
Website Click here for more information and booking

You might also like
Free for Members
Highlights to catch at the Roundhouse this season
Free pairs of tickets available
22 Nov 19 - 21 Dec 19

Roundhouse, Camden Winter Season

Members only All booked Members only

Most popular

UK Disneyland? Paramount Theme Park, Kent. Photo: Paramount
Everything you need to know about UK Disneyland, Kent's London Resort
Things to do in London this weekend: 6 – 8 December
Things to do in London this weekend: 6 – 8 December
Ring in 2020: London's Best New Year's Eve Parties
Ring in 2020: London's Best New Year’s Eve parties to book early

Editor's Picks

Handel's Messiah is an essential element of Christmas
Messiah: London Christmas performances of Handel's oratorio
Akhnaten is screened from the Met in New York on 23 Nov. Photo: Richard Hubert Smith
Opera cinema screenings: London showcases international casts
Jonas Kaufmann sings Florestan in Beethoven's Fidelio. Photo: Gregor Hohnberg
Best Covent Garden Opera and Dance this winter
Steven Isserlis is among artists opening Beethoven 250 at Wigmore Hall. Photo: Satoshi Aoyagi
Beethoven 250, Wigmore Hall
Ukrainian-born Dalia Stasevska gives her first Barbican concert as the new principal guest conductor of the BBCSO on 26 Oct. Photo: Jarmo Katila
Best Russian music: London concerts and operas that dazzle
Vladimir Jurowski conducts the London Philharmonic Orchestra in music from his native Russia
Best Classical Music and Opera 2019

Opera Holland Park

Léhar

John Savournin

Alison Langer

You might like

  • Nicky Spence sings the tragic Lensky in Eugene Onegin. Photo: Raphaelle

    Eugene Onegin, Opera Holland Park

  • Anna Patalong sings the vulnerable Gilda at Opera Holland Park. Photo: Victoria Cadisch

    Rigoletto, Opera Holland Park

  • Opera Holland Park sings joyful and inspiring music for Christmas at St Columba's

    Opera Holland Park Christmas Concert, St Columba's, Chelsea

  • The Culture Whisper team
  • What is Culture Whisper membership
  • Corporate membership
  • Give a gift membership
  • Retrieve a gift membership
  • Contact us
  • Press
  • FAQ
  • Privacy
  • Terms and conditions
  • Cookies
  • Discover
  • Venues
  • Restaurants
  • Stations
  • Boroughs

BECOME A MEMBER TODAY
TO CONTINUE TO ENJOY CULTURE WHISPER

You’ve clicked to view the best of our content that we
save exclusively for our members.

If you liked what you saw, subscribe from just £15 and get
unlimited access to our unique culture service as well as
all of our membership benefits.

BECOME A MEMBER ×

Want a pair of free tickets every month?
Upgrade to Gold Whisper now
and save 10% with GOLD10.
Become a premium member today.

UPGRADE NOW ×