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Summary: A Classic Musical from Old Vienna
Review: The Merry Widow was an important model for the innovators of a burgeoning new style of Lyric drama, the American Musical. It had everything they wanted: lovely, hummable tunes, silly, broad, robust characters, romantic intrigue, even a happy ending. The Merry Widow was, in fact, an essential prototype of the American Musical. Dover Publications reprinted the Oliver Ditson edition from the early 20th century. It's a fine edition with a reliable piano reduction; not over-simplified, like some American turn-of-the-century piano reductions, but simple enough to reflect Lehar's orchestration accurately. It's easy to read, and, as always, darn near indestructable. The only problem with this Dover/Ditson reprint is that, in place of the original German text, it offers a Victorian English text rather too quaint for modern production. This isn't a major problem however. It shouldn't be too much trouble simply to scribble in a skillful modern translation, say Sheldon Harnick's, provided, of course, you have his permission.
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