Lehár: Vilja Song from The Merry Widow Operetta (Gorgeous Ernestina Jošt soprano)

The Merry Widow (German: Die lustige Witwe) is an operetta by the Austro-Hungarian composer Franz Lehár. The librettists, Viktor Léon and Leo Stein, based the story – concerning a rich widow, and her countrymen's attempt to keep her money in the principality by finding her the right husband – on an 1861 comedy play, L'attaché d'ambassade (The Embassy Attaché) by Henri Meilhac.

The operetta has enjoyed extraordinary international success since its 1905 premiere in Vienna and continues to be frequently revived and recorded. Film and other adaptations have also been made. Well-known music from the score includes the "Vilja Song", "Da geh' ich zu Maxim" ("You'll Find Me at Maxim's"), and the "Merry Widow Waltz".

Solo sopran: Ernestina Jošt
piano: Ivan Pernicki

This was Ernestina final concert for Ljubljana Academy of Music, where she graduated. She got suma cum laude grades for her singing. I hope you will enjoy this emotional performance.

You will hear accompanied voices in the distance. Members of Carmen Manet Choir came to support Ernestina final concert for Ljubljana Academy of Music.

PPZ and TAJUS production

Camera operators: Juš Hrastnik, Gal Nagode, Primož Zevnik
Dolly operator: Dan Ažman
Production assistant: Jakob Zevnik
Floral design: Smiljana Bertoncelj - Nanča
Sound engineer: Sara Ritonja
Mastering: Iztok Zupan
Head of production: Gal Nagode
Assistant director: Juš Hrastnik
Director and producer: Primož Zevnik

Lyrics:

Once lived a Vilja, a maid of the woods,
And hunter spotted her in rocky outcroppings!
The young boy, who was
Affected curiously by her presence,
He looked and looked
at the wood-maiden.
And a shudder the boy had never known
Took hold of him,
Longingly he began quietly to sigh!
Vilja, oh Vilja, you maid of the woods,
Take me and let me
be your dearest true love!
Vilja, O Vilja what are you doing to me?
Begs a lovesick man!

The maid of the woods stretched
her hand to him
And pulled him into her rocky home.
The boy nearly lost all his sense
And so she loved him and kissed him as no earthly child.
When she kissed him to his content
She disappeared in an instant!
The hunter waved goodbye only once before she vanished:
Vilja, oh Vilja, you maid of the woods,
Take me and let me
be your dearest true love!
Vilja, O Vilja what are you doing to me?
Begs a lovesick man!