DIE LUSTIGE WITWE

In Paris, Ambassador Mirko Zeta and his staff are holding a reception in honour of the prince, while pondering possible actions to prevent bankruptcy of their small, indebted, but nonetheless proud country. That is why the ambassador has invited Hanna Glawari, a rich widow of a Pontevedrian banker living in Paris, hoping that she would fall in love with a fellow citizen and return to her country, bringing back her immense wealth. Zeta has chosen the candidacy of Count Danilo Danilovitsch, third secretary of the embassy, a known womanizer, who has had a relationship with Hanna, their engagement prevented by his uncle. Danilo had submitted to the wish of the head of the family, and poor Hanna married a rich old royal banker and soon became a widow. However, the ambassador’s plan is likely to fail, because there is resentment, still, between Hanna and Danilo. Moreover, Hanna accuses the Count that he, too, courts her only for her money, and the count answers by vowing to never declare love for Hanna. Meanwhile, the ambassador’s reception is tumultuous with events. Kromow’s wife Olga and de St Brioche, council Bogdanovitch’s wife and Vicomte Cascada are going to celebrate their first anniversary. At the same time, even the ambassador’s wife Valencienne is flirting with the French attaché Camille de Rosillion. The young diplomat, infatuated with Valencienne, writes a love confession on her fan: “I adore you!” At the banquet room all the men, who are after her money, court the beautiful widow. Zeta is worried that Ms. Glawari will end up choosing the Frenchman. The widow enjoys the situation, especially Danilo’s jealousy of the army of suitors, although the count was supposed to “scare away” all the admirers according to the ambassador’s instructions. Finally, Danilo and Hanna are left alone, but despite her expectations Danilo doesn’t confess his love…

Hanna Glawari announces to the staggered crowd that count Danilo will return soon, because he will find his favourite club closed, since all the girls are at her house. The guests are entertained with sensational cancan, performed by dancers from “Maxima”, as well as Valencienne, Olga, and Sylviane, who, as it becomes clear, are former dancers at “Maxima”. When Danilo returns, Hanna tells him that there is no love between her and de Rosillion, and she only wanted to save Valencienne’s honour. The count almost confesses his love, but he remembers his vow and remains silent. But once the widow tells him that according to her late husband’s will, she will lose her fortune, should she marry again, Danilo finally says the magical words: “I love you”. Whereupon Hanna adds that the fortune, according to the same will, goes to her new husband. By the end of the evening Zeta and Valencienne reconcile, and she assures him of her love.