Vilja aria from Lehár's The Merry Widow ǀ English National Opera

The Merry Widow | 1 March - 13 April 2019 | London Coliseum |
Tickets from £12, with 500 tickets available at every performance for £20 or less.
Find out more: www.eno.org/widow
The Merry Widow is Franz Lehár‘s comic masterpiece, played out in a stream of memorable melodies including the familiar ‘Vilja Song’ and ‘Merry Widow Waltz’.
With a truly glamorous setting, Lehár’s operetta centres on the relationship between the dazzling and wealthy young widow Hanna and Danilo, who has an appetite for wine and women.
As this delightful tale of a woman’s quest for love unfolds, their burgeoning romance is hampered by mishap, intrigue and comedic misadventure.
Making their ENO debuts with Lehár’s classic are director Max Webster (The Lorax at Old Vic) and sought-after Estonian conductor Kristiina Poska.
As the vivacious Hanna, ENO favourite Sarah Tynan returns for her second major appearance of the 2018/19 season. She is joined by Nathan Gunn as Danilo, while ENO legend Andrew Shore plays the pompous Zeta.
English lyrics by Richard Thomas
English book by April de Angelis
See The Merry Widow at the London Coliseum from 1 March - 13 April 2019.
Learn more and book tickets: www.eno.org/widow
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At ENO opera is theatre; expressing drama through the unique combination of music, text, dance and design. We sing in English. We believe that singing in our own language connects the performers and the audiences to the drama on stage, and enhances the experience for all.
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[@Zen_Viniti]

My grandmother sang this in 1967. She was so beautiful. RIP MARY JENNINGS 🙏 4-23-24

[@richmerne3593]

Perhaps the soprano should have been credited - she deserves it!!!

[@dennisokeefe9255]

Simply beautiful.

[@viliabouilly4643]

My father named me after this song…Vilia ❤

[@dab505279]

I like this very much indeed, but I will be disappointed if we can't watch the entire opera. Much respect to Sarah Tynan!

[@brucegreaves3204]

Such fond memories. Just beautiful.

[@frankeffenberger9698]

Charming.

[@Corinthian44]

It seems , that people have to be a certain age to appreciate beautiful operettas like this ! Such a shame !

[@Robby77436]

Well, since I was 10.... when I got introduced to this genre.... about 35 years ago....

[@louiserebecca2358]

😊😊😊😊

[@erichsommer88]

Great

[@gloriaseymour3570]

Any chance I could get the text of this version of "Villa"? Beautiful voice and production!!

[@david168ding6]

Sarah Tynan great

[@randallmaluenda]

More power to the chorus.

[@aininwu4474]

There lived a Vilja, a woods-maiden, A hunter spied her in a rocky cliff! The fellow, became So strangely affected, He looked and looked At the little woods-maiden. And a never known shudder Seized the young hunter, Longingly he began quietly to sigh! Vilja, O Vilja, you little woods-maiden, Take me and let me Be your dearest true love! Vilja, O Vilja, what are you doing to me? Fearfully begs a lovesick man! Vilja, O Vilja, what are you doing to me? Fearfully begs a lovesick man! The woods-maiden stretched Out her hand to him And pulled him into her cliff-dwelling. The lad almost lost his senses, Thus loved and kissed no earthly child. As soon as she was sated with kissing She disappeared at that moment! Just once did the poor lad wave to her: Vilja, O Vilja, you little woods-maiden, Take me and let me Be your dearest true love! Vilja, O Vilja, what are you doing to me? Fearfully begs a lovesick man! Vilja, O Vilja, what are you doing to me? Fearfully begs a lovesick man!

[@randallmaluenda]

Love it.

[@louisepasquill3837]

This was the most beautiful moment. The music, the voice, the colours, the costume, the lighting, the sound, the set. Actually magical and I will remember it forever.

[@jenniferponsford]

The first operetta I ever heard when I was about 10 always well remembered for last 68years @

[@Corinthian44]

Mine too Jennifer , apart from Gilbert and Sullivan .

[@dmitryklenin3359]

Fantastic! Sarah Tynan is a tremendous soprano.

[@drc4168]

Sarah Tynan is an outstanding artist! People go on and on about Natalie Dessay but Tynan is so much more gifted. Her Cleopatra (Opera North) was unbelievable...

[@terrellholmes2726]

John Coltrane's take on this aria brought me here.

[@briantilke]

Beautiful girl with a beautiful voice

[@randallmaluenda]

My favorite "Vilja" rendition. Sarah nails it!

[@gunnarbaldwin]

Why isn’t this song more popular?

[@shottonjrg]

Fantastic. Will this be released on disc/DVD? Or any chance of more films here? Would love to see the urinal septet again!

[@Robby77436]

Hahaha, that was so funny. Very different adaptation to the original Hungarian version, but couldn't stop laughing at that scene.

[@richmerne3593]

Perhaps light in theme and plot and not long drawn out, but I dont understand why Lehars work is given the diminutive title (etta) instead of simply 'opera'!

[@lehnrik]

Because some lines are spoken instead of being sung.

[@Robby77436]

Because this is another genre. There are many operettas which have spoken lines in it, and this genre is perfected by Hungarian and Austrian composers, like Ferenc Lehár, Imre Kálmán, Johann Strauss, Offenbach, and many others, mainly during the time of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Many famous waltzes originate from operettas which are played by the Wiener Philharmonic New Year's day concerts each year. The Operetta is on the list of Hungarian National Treasures & Heritage and almost every theatre has them on their repertoire each year.

[@nagyibolya7043]

Super!!!!

[@muhamednathar6537]

Just gorgeous voice (and looks). Who is she?

[@arinc6284]

Sarah Tynan, I believe!

[@edithbuttaro7998]

I was raised on opera, my father had a Sunday radio program every week, Bach contatas. Station WONO in Syracuse, NY. Love this!

[@robnap828]

The chorus to this aria is glorious!

[@lynryall1317]

67 now me .. Welsh with song in my heart....the best of the best Robert Round .....me thinks xx and June Bronhill. ..grew up with those beautiful voices xxxx

[@johnfryer3051]

Absolutely beautiful singing and set.

[@babyelleana389]

1:40

[@randallmaluenda]

I'd like to hear more from Sarah.

[@drparnassus2867]

I like this new translation.

[@hughmackay5200]

Wonderful slush! I adore it :)

[@claudinedemantet]

Beautiful.

[@albertpeckham8708]

Who is she? She has a wonderful voice!

[@sprocket4718]

Sarah Tynan

[@mattyd3079]

the singer has an excellent voice, but i am not feeling the Viennese style. There is no light and shade. The tempo is too slow for my taste. And there seems to be a disconnection between singer and orchestra - maybe because she is perched so high. But it is almost like the singers hardly rehearsed with the orchestra.

[@mortalcoil1541]

I’m here from M. T. Anderson’s book “Symphony for the City of the Dead.” Evidently this is one of Adolf Hitler’s favorite pieces of music. It’s still beautiful though!

[@stevehinnenkamp5625]

Sung very well, but I kept waiting for Bea Arthur to get Mame off the moon!

[@lynryall1317]

Can't beat the original ..June Bronhill and Robert Round.

[@brymorian]

Lynnrial1317,. You must be. as. Young as me, 1950:, black and white television, June was a regular. Lovely voice

[@wiesawrudnicki5303]

ladnie

[@christophesingio9801]

Fééric !

[@keikomachizawa805]

聴きながらうとうとしてしまいました。。。久しぶりのオペラありがとうございます。新鮮で素敵です！！

[@JuliaTints]

What does it mean 0:23 PM

[@ritastockmar9467]

❤

[@brymorian]

In ninety fifty four, aged, twelve, old black and white television we watched a marvelous soprano, June Bronhill sing this, she was so talented.

[@rickrack9091]

People need filed their children in classical music ! Daily so the kids growing up intellectually !!❤

[@rickrack9091]

❤😂🎉