Purdue News

February 22, 2002 'The Merry Widow' to be performed at Elliott Hall WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The London City Opera Company will perform the operetta "The Merry Widow" at 4 p.m. Sunday, March 3, in the Elliott Hall of Music. Admission is $34, $28, $22 and $12 for general public, $20, $16, $14 and $12 for Purdue students and children K-12. Tickets can be purchased at Purdue box offices or charged by phone at (765) 494-3933 or (800) 914-SHOW. "The Merry Widow" is presented by Purdue Convocations. Written by Viennese composer Franz Lehar, "The Merry Widow" is a tale of romance and social intrigue set in the lavish salons of turn-of-the-century Paris. Lehar's music recreates a world of high-kicking cancan girls, popping champagne corks, elegant ball gowns and secret assignations. The plot involves the charm of true love, the fate of a nation, farcical misunderstandings and, at the center of it all, a lovely young widow with a great deal of money. Baron Zeta, the cuckolded ambassador of the impoverished Balkan state of Pontevedro, seeks to prevent foreign suitors from securing the hand and fortune of the rich widow, Hanna. Being an operetta, it all ends happily, but not before Hanna and her true love, Danilo, have led a merry dance or two. The London City Opera Company was formed six years ago by British concert promoter and artistic director, Martin McEvoy. Over the past years, the company has been in great demand to perform at not only the finest theaters throughout the country, but also at many major music festivals. The company presents Christmas seasons of operetta at St. David's Hall in Cardiff and The Fairfield Hall London and also has devised charity opera galas which have been attended by members of England's royalty. CONTACT: Larry Sommers, Purdue Convocations, (765) 494-5045, lsommers@purdue.edu. NOTE TO JOURNALISTS: A publication-quality photograph of Penelope Mathisen as Hanna in "The Merry Widow" is available at ftp://ftp.purdue.edu/pub/uns/widow.jpeg. Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu To the Purdue News and Photos Page