Following the phenomenal success of the Italian opera ``Aida'' in China, the classic Viennese operetta "The Merry Widow" is to offer a dazzling feast for Beijingers this weekend.

The performance will be staged by more than 80 accomplished artists, with all the major soloists from the world famous Viennese Opera House, one of the top touring theatres in Europe.

It is the first chance for a Chinese audience to appreciate the original flavour of the opera which comes from Austria, a real home for music.

The operetta highlights delightful and popular music, representing a simple and straightforward style. It is regarded as the prelude of musical movies in Europe and the United States.

Melanie Holiday, the soprano, will star as the young, pretty and rich heroine Hanna Glawari.

Born in Houston, Texas in the United States, Holiday had 14 years of formal training in ballet before taking up singing with Walter Foster.

She has been touring Europe for a while and her fantastic presentations are well appreciated by experts in the field.

Heinz Hellberg, conductor and stage manager, is regarded as a talented musician.

At the age of 14 he began learning the horn and conducting in the Academy for Music and Art in Vienna. Two years later, he became the youngest choir conductor in Austria.

Then he started his career as operetta singer (buffo) and became the first soloist in the Vienna Volksopera where he worked for 13 years.

Kurt Liederer will play the buffoon. He has experiences performing in theatres throughout Europe where he has been warmly received.

"The Merry Widow" has been translated into 25 languages and performed 250,000 times all over the world.

The audience will no doubt be delighted to hear the familiar and popular melody that runs throughout the show.

(China Daily 12/04/2000)