The State Opera’s production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s popular operetta is a sparkling version that verges on anime.
The latest production by the State Opera of South Australia is a magical concoction of song, dance and colour. Written by Hungarian composer Franz Lehar in 1905 The Merry Widow has enjoyed popularity right up to today.
Set in 16th Century Nuremburg, the story explores the annual song competition and rivalries of the Guilds that controlled the city. Pogner, the goldsmith, will give his daughter’s hand in marriage to the winner of the song contest, Walther von Stolzing wishes to take part but fails to understand the archaic rules and regulations that surround the entrants. He is, of course, already in love with Eva. Hans Sachs, the shoemaker, schools him in the requirements and encourages the newcomer to share his ideas. This brings us to Wagner’s main theme, what is art and how do we define it?