TE acclaimed Musica Lirica Opera company and orchestra will perform Franz Lehar’s The Merry Widow at Bingley Arts Centre this summer.

The musical is set in turn of the century Paris at the time of the Belle Epoque. The Grand Duchy of Pontevedro is bankrupt and Count Danilo Danilovitch is ordered to woo and marry the rich, recently widowed Hanna Glavari.

Will the reluctant count and widow become an item? Will the widow’s money be appropriated by a French husband? With its wit, sophisticated Parisian charm and Viennese melodies, The Merry Widow became the most successful and popular operetta ever. The Merry Widow Waltz, You’ll find me at Maxime’s and Women! Women! Women! are some of the memorable songs from the show.Over the last six years Musica Lirica Opera has taken productions to community venues.

Artistic director Michael Hall says: “We have young professional singers and other professional opera singers. As is the tradition with this genre of music, no microphones will be used as the singers have sufficient lung capacity to soar over its orchestra. The company is delighted to be performing for the first time in West Yorkshire.

“A major goal of the company has been to make opera accessible to a public which may not be familiar with it, and at the same time accommodate opera buffs in the area.

The Merry Widow is at Bingley Arts Centre on Sunday, June 7 at 2.30pm.

For tickets, call (01274) 519814.