NEW YORK—Franz Lehár’s 1905 “The Merry Widow” (“Die Lustige Witwe”) is one of the most popular operettas, and the new production at the Metropolitan Opera shows why. Two Broadway veterans in their Met debuts are among the reasons for the success of the revival: director-choreographer Susan Stroman (of “The Producers,” “Contact,” and “Crazy for You”) and musical theater star Kelli O'Hara.
Other notable talents on hand were Renée Fleming in the title role, Sir Thomas Allen as Baron Mirko Zeta, and Nathan Gunn as Count Danilo. The production was unveiled on New Year’s Eve, but I caught a later performance.
Fleming is ideal as the merry widow; she looks lovely, and her singing of the "Vilja Song" is the musical highlight of the evening.
