A Merry Widow Sampler

Music by Franz Lehár
English Version by Donald Pippin

Anna, the merry widow, now the richest woman in Europe, arrives in Paris to an acclaim that she takes with a grain of salt:

ANNA You follow -- oh, so amorous! Each day the numbers mount. Would I be quite so glamorous Without my bank account? Your inner fire I seem to stir -- With what are you in love? My beauty, charm and character, Or none of the above? Now of course I could be wrong, Though I fear the reverse: The power of your song Is inspired by my purse. What magic do you see in me? A vision of romance? Or is your passion possibly More focused on finance? With chivalry you vie for me -- I have to wonder which Would still repine and sigh for me Had I not struck it rich?

Meet Count Danilo, also from Pontevedro, now a confirmed Parisian:

DANILO I saunter out to see The high life of Paree, Those jewels of the nation Of spicy reputation, Do-Do, Margot, Gigi, Lulu, Frou Frou, Fifi, The girls who gather nightly For camaraderie. The darlings of my dreams Assemble at Maxim's -- Those captivating creatures Put down by prudes and preachers, Do-Do, Margot, Gigi, Lulu, Frou Frou, Fifi, Whom natives term politely Café society.

Anna and Danilo meet again, by chance. What has become of their former passion?

ANNA Not all that long ago You went your separate way; I rallied from the blow, So here we are today. A world for you and me Was never meant to be; There's not a lot now left to say. BOTH The past is over, The rift beyond repair; Dissolved forever The dream we used to share. The love you whispered, The life that might have been, The second chance Will never come again. No reason to recall the days gone by; Never shall I waste a sigh. Then we were young and still immature; Youth is an ill that time will cure. We were naive in trusting fate, But saw the light before too late.

MWidow photo 2
(Baker Peeples and Jane Hammett)

The intoxification of Paris takes over:

DANILO To melody in waltz time, come recapture Days of springtime, wine and rapture. As the twirling progresses, the dancing floor spins To the silken caresses of violins. As you glide in a dream, in a trance, On a tide flowing on with the dance, You're a-twirl in a world ever thrilling, Filled with the lilt of romance. To a tune sweeter than before, Arm in arm with the girl I adore, With a smile, with a sigh, In a spell, you and I Are alone on a crowded floor.

Amid the glitter, Anna recalls an old tale from back home:

ANNA There lived in the forest That shadows enfold, A nymph known as Vilya With hair spun of gold; Beheld by a hunter Who strayed from the field, Alas! Little wonder His fate then was sealed. Passion heretofore denied No longer could the young man hide. Vale and hill Echo to his love song still. Vilya, oh Vilya, my life, my desire! Love I would follow through water and fire. Vilya, oh Vilya, I call, I implore; Come and be mine evermore.

Camille makes a final plea to Valencienne, the proud, irreproachable wife:

CAMILLE Born on the breeze of April, And wrapped in green of May, Full as the rose in flower, My love perfumes the day. It carries me to islands Where music fills the air, A land of golden sunshine Because you're always there. That paradise enchanted Am I to wave goodbye? The rose so newly planted, Can you allow to die? Come! Close at hand I know a place Where a hidden door invites inside. There fearlessly we can embrace, Tasting delicate delights denied. Friendly dark will hide Joy that no tongue will tell. Come, open paradise again With a tender kiss and then - farewell.

MWidow photo 3
(Marla Kavanaugh and Joseph Meyers)

The operetta ends the way one would wish for all things to end:

DANILO Strings are playing Softly saying, "I love you." Hearts are beating, Both repeating, "Love me, too." Ev'ry sigh unspoken Sends a message through, Tells of two in harmony, A dream come true.

List of Donald Pippin's English Versions
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Anna, the merry widow, now the richest woman in Europe, arrives in Paris to an acclaim that she takes with a grain of salt:
ANNA You follow -- oh, so amorous! Each day the numbers mount. Would I be quite so glamorous Without my bank account? Your inner fire I seem to stir -- With what are you in love? My beauty, charm and character, Or none of the above? Now of course I could be wrong, Though I fear the reverse: The power of your song Is inspired by my purse. What magic do you see in me? A vision of romance? Or is your passion possibly More focused on finance? With chivalry you vie for me -- I have to wonder which Would still repine and sigh for me Had I not struck it rich?
Meet Count Danilo, also from Pontevedro, now a confirmed Parisian:
DANILO I saunter out to see The high life of Paree, Those jewels of the nation Of spicy reputation, Do-Do, Margot, Gigi, Lulu, Frou Frou, Fifi, The girls who gather nightly For camaraderie. The darlings of my dreams Assemble at Maxim's -- Those captivating creatures Put down by prudes and preachers, Do-Do, Margot, Gigi, Lulu, Frou Frou, Fifi, Whom natives term politely Café society.
Anna and Danilo meet again, by chance. What has become of their former passion?
ANNA Not all that long ago You went your separate way; I rallied from the blow, So here we are today. A world for you and me Was never meant to be; There's not a lot now left to say. BOTH The past is over, The rift beyond repair; Dissolved forever The dream we used to share. The love you whispered, The life that might have been, The second chance Will never come again. No reason to recall the days gone by; Never shall I waste a sigh. Then we were young and still immature; Youth is an ill that time will cure. We were naive in trusting fate, But saw the light before too late.	(Baker Peeples and Jane Hammett)
The intoxification of Paris takes over:
DANILO To melody in waltz time, come recapture Days of springtime, wine and rapture. As the twirling progresses, the dancing floor spins To the silken caresses of violins. As you glide in a dream, in a trance, On a tide flowing on with the dance, You're a-twirl in a world ever thrilling, Filled with the lilt of romance. To a tune sweeter than before, Arm in arm with the girl I adore, With a smile, with a sigh, In a spell, you and I Are alone on a crowded floor.
Amid the glitter, Anna recalls an old tale from back home:
ANNA There lived in the forest That shadows enfold, A nymph known as Vilya With hair spun of gold; Beheld by a hunter Who strayed from the field, Alas! Little wonder His fate then was sealed. Passion heretofore denied No longer could the young man hide. Vale and hill Echo to his love song still. Vilya, oh Vilya, my life, my desire! Love I would follow through water and fire. Vilya, oh Vilya, I call, I implore; Come and be mine evermore.
Camille makes a final plea to Valencienne, the proud, irreproachable wife:
CAMILLE Born on the breeze of April, And wrapped in green of May, Full as the rose in flower, My love perfumes the day. It carries me to islands Where music fills the air, A land of golden sunshine Because you're always there. That paradise enchanted Am I to wave goodbye? The rose so newly planted, Can you allow to die? Come! Close at hand I know a place Where a hidden door invites inside. There fearlessly we can embrace, Tasting delicate delights denied. Friendly dark will hide Joy that no tongue will tell. Come, open paradise again With a tender kiss and then - farewell.	(Marla Kavanaugh and Joseph Meyers)
The operetta ends the way one would wish for all things to end:
DANILO Strings are playing Softly saying, "I love you." Hearts are beating, Both repeating, "Love me, too." Ev'ry sigh unspoken Sends a message through, Tells of two in harmony, A dream come true.