Lehár: The Merry Widow (Highlights, in English)

Franz Lehar (Composer), Barry Wordsworth (Conductor), Alan Oke (Performer), Eiddwen Harrhy (Performer), Glenn Winslade (Performer), Helen Kucharek (Performer), Ian Comboy (Performer), Janine Roebuck (Performer), Joan Davies (Performer), Julian Moyle (Performer), Leon Berger (Performer), Mark Curtis (Performer), Paul Parfitt (Performer), Peter Jones (Performer), Stefan Paul Sanchez (Performer), Una Buchanan (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Alan Oke, Eiddwen Harrhy, Glenn Winslade, Helen Kucharek, Ian Comboy, et al.
• Conductor: Barry Wordsworth
• Composer: Franz Lehar
• Audio CD (November 18, 1997)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Jay Records
• ASIN: B000005BHJ
• Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #538,798 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Die lustige Witwe (The Merry Widow), operetta: Act 1: Opening Act

2. Die lustige Witwe (The Merry Widow), operetta: Act 1: Alone at Last

3. Die lustige Witwe (The Merry Widow), operetta: Act 1: Well, My Gallant Friends / Hanna's Entrance

4. Die lustige Witwe (The Merry Widow), operetta: Act 1: O Fatherland, I Must Protest / Off to Old Maxim's

5. Die lustige Witwe (The Merry Widow), operetta: Act 1: Finale Act 1

6. Die lustige Witwe (The Merry Widow), operetta: Act 2: Opening Act 2 / Dance Vilja

7. Die lustige Witwe (The Merry Widow), operetta: Act 2: Maiden, Look, A Soldier Boy

8. Die lustige Witwe (The Merry Widow), operetta: Act 2: Oh, The Women!

9. Die lustige Witwe (The Merry Widow), operetta: Act 2: Just as the Sun Awakens

10. Die lustige Witwe (The Merry Widow), operetta: Act 2: Finale Act 2

11. Die lustige Witwe (The Merry Widow), operetta: Act 3: Cake Walk

12. Die lustige Witwe (The Merry Widow), operetta: Act 3: Grisette's Song

13. Die lustige Witwe (The Merry Widow), operetta: Act 3: Words Forbidden (No. 15)

14. Die lustige Witwe (The Merry Widow), operetta: Act 3: Finale Act 3

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars There Is A Better English Version, June 5, 2000

By 

John Boland "John Boland" (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Lehár: The Merry Widow (Highlights, in English) (Audio CD)

There is a better English version. It is the version conductied by William Reid and sung by June Bronhill, soprano. The translation is MUCH more easy to love. The singing in the Bronhill version is MUCH better. For example, at the end of the famous song, "Vilja" in THIS version the voice of the soprano is WEAK and cannot be heard over the chorus; in the Bronhill/Reid version the soprano CAN be heard OVER the chorus as she hits her high note at the end of "Vilja"---the effect is VERY thrilling. So, click on "Bronhill" to find this version. The only problem is that it is RARE and must be special ordered from England. But, if you love "The Merry Widow" as I do, it is worth the wait. Enjoy! Email:boland7214@aol.

ADDITION 9-2006: The version with June Bronhill, soprano, and translation by Christopher Hassel is now entitled: "Léhar: The Land of Smiles; The Merry Widow; The Count of Luxembourg (Highlights)". It is from Holland but I saw it here on Amazon today. Email:boland7214@aol.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars average recording, Eiddwen Harrhy is a fine Hanna, August 13, 2004

By 

Byron Kolln (the corner where Broadway meets Hollywood) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Lehár: The Merry Widow (Highlights, in English) (Audio CD)

This recording of THE MERRY WIDOW features the cast of the New Sadler's Wells company, with Eiddwen Harrhy in the title role of widow Hanna Glawari, and Alan Oke as Count Danilo. This is another English-language version of the score, though not the best I have heard. I still consider the Joan Sutherland-John Brecknock version as the recording of choice, with the Dorothy Kirsten-Robert Rounseville coming a close second. Eiddwen Harrhy is a fine Hanna (her "Vilja" is quite stirring), but the diction of many of the performers is muddy and off-putting.

The orchestra under the direction of Barry Wordsworth is sensational. This recording makes me wonder why the Lincoln Center revival with Patrice Munsel has never been issued on CD.