Macerata Opera Festival - Sferisterio Macerata
The famous operetta “The Merry Widow” will be performed for the first time at the Sferisterio.
Franz Lehár’s sophisticated music, peppered with waltzes, polkas, and mazurkas, as well as pieces such as “The Romance of Vilja” and the duet “Tace il Labbra,” is loved by audiences around the world.
In 2025, The Merry Widow will grace the stage on July 18th and 27th and August 2nd and 9th, with performances beginning at 9:00 PM. This timeless story, traditionally performed in Italian, offers a delightful balance between comedy and sentimentality, brought to life by exceptional singers and actors whose artistry shines in this demanding yet rewarding production.
Step into a world of elegance, humor, and romance with Franz Lehár’s masterpiece, The Merry Widow, performed at the iconic open-air Teatro Sferisterio in Macerata. This celebrated operetta, first premiered in 1905 in Vienna, embodies the sophistication of its time, blending sparkling music, witty dialogue, and heartfelt emotions into a theatrical gem that continues to enchant audiences of all ages.
Join us for an evening of joy, music, and romance in the heart of Italy’s Marche region. Reserve your tickets and make this summer a celebration of art, culture, and unforgettable memories!
The Story of Franz Lehár’s The Merry Widow
Franz Lehár’s The Merry Widow (La vedova allegra) is a sparkling operetta that masterfully blends romance, humor, and diplomacy. Set in the fictional Balkan principality of Pontevedro, the story revolves around the wealthy widow Hanna Glawari, whose fortune is crucial to the financial stability of her homeland.
To prevent her money from leaving Pontevedro through marriage to a foreigner, the country’s ambassador, Baron Zeta, devises a plan: Hanna must marry the charming but carefree Count Danilo Danilovich, a fellow Pontevedrian. However, complications arise as Hanna and Danilo share a romantic past that ended badly, leading to a humorous and emotionally charged dynamic between them.
While Hanna flirts with various suitors, including the hilariously bumbling Camille de Rosillon, Danilo struggles to admit his lingering feelings for her. Amid waltzes, misunderstandings, and comedic mishaps, the operetta unfolds with delightful twists, culminating in Danilo’s heartfelt confession of love and Hanna’s clever revelation that her fortune would remain with her after marriage. The couple reconciles, ensuring both love and Pontevedro’s future.
Lehár’s music, especially the iconic “Vilja Song” and the waltz “Da geh’ ich zu Maxim,” adds a touch of elegance and timeless charm to this enchanting story of love, pride, and second chances.
The Artists and Creative Team
Operetta in three acts by Franz Lehár.
Libretto by Victor Léon and Leo Stein, based on the play by Henri Meilhac L’Attaché d’ambassade.
First performance: Vienna, Theater an der Wien, 30 December 1905
Conductor • Marco Alibrando
Director • Arnaud Bernard
Adaptation of the text • Gianni Santucci
Scenes • Riccardo Massironi
Costumes • Maria Carla Ricotti
Lights • Fiammetta Baldisseri
Choreography and assistant director • Gianni Santucci
Baron Mirko Zeta • Alberto Petricca
Valencienne • Cristin Arsenova
Count Danilo Danilowitsch • Alessandro Scotto di Luzio
Hanna Glawari • Mihaela Marcu
Camille de Rossilon • Valerio Borgioni
Viscount Cascada • Cristiano Olivieri
Raoul de Saint-Brioche • Francesco Pittari
Bogdanowitsch • Giacomo Medici
Sylviane • Laura Esposito
Kromow • Stefano Consolini
Olga • Federica Sardella
Pritschitsch • Davide Pelissero
Praskowia • Elena Serra
Njegus • Marco Simeoli
FORM-Orchestra Filarmonica Marchigiana
Coro Lirico Marchigiano “Vincenzo Bellini”
Choirmaster • Christian Starinieri
New staging by the Arena Sferisterio Association
Set in the enchanting atmosphere of Macerata’s Arena Sferisterio, this performance promises an unforgettable cultural experience under the stars. Whether you’re an opera enthusiast or a newcomer, Lehár’s elegant score and captivating storyline make The Merry Widow an unmissable highlight of the Macerata Opera Festival 2025.
The Package
Essential Package
The essential package includes the tickets in the selected category and 2 nights with breakfast in a hotel.
To help you to better understand the various options for the Macerata Opera Festival 2024 in the Marche Region we need your request for booking. We will respond quickly with a detailed description of our packages. The total price depends greatly on the chosen ticket category and the hotel. As soon as we have your request we will check the availability. The best tickets for this event will sell out quickly. So please plan early. Also, this is the peak season for the holiday region and the best hotels will be sold out quickly as well.
Supplements for this Macerata Opera Festival 2025
Once we know your needs we will provide you with a choice of options. We are the experts when it comes to individually organized private trips.
Additional Services We Can Combine with Your Italy Trip
- Transfer from the airport or train station to the hotel
- Guided city tour
- Transfer from the hotel to the venue and back
- Wine and product tastings
- Onward travel to other destinations in Italy
Booking Process
Music trip to Macerata for 3 days / 2 nights with premium tickets for the opera “La Vedova Allegra” at the Macerata Opera Festival.
Make your booking request and we will answer you with an individual offer. Each travel package will be composed according to your wishes. You can ask for longer stays to discover Italy.
Please note that we only sell tickets in combination with a hotel reservation. We are not a ticket office and therefore we cannot sell tickets only.
Follow the booking process:
- Select a Date
- Press “Add to cart” and “Send Request”
- When we receive your booking request, you will get an individual offer with tickets and selected hotels to choose from. Only after your decision, we send you a travel contract to confirm the booking.
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Performance Dates of La Vedova Allegra
2025-07-18 ... 2025-08-09
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Events
Operas, Ballets, Concerts of the Season 2025
In Macerata on the open-air stage of the Arena Sferisterio
