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Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota will pres- ent excerpts from Franz Lehár's romantic operetta The Merry Widow on Saturday, May 10, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, May 11, at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. at the Historic Asolo Theater, located at 5401 Bay Shore Road in Sarasota, the organization has announced. Tickets, which are $25 to $45, may be pur- chased online at artistseriesconcerts.org or by calling 360-7399. Lehár's operetta premiered in Vienna in 1905, a news release points out. It "has long charmed audiences with its light-hearted tale of suitors seeking the hand of a wealthy young widow in fin-de-siècle Paris," the release adds. "Set in a whirl of dazzling parties, well-heeled CONCERT SERIES TO PRESENT EXCERPTS FROM THE MERRY WIDOW ladies, dashing bachelors and ever-flowing bubbly," The Merry Widow follows the story of Ambassador Baron Zeta — the part will be sung by bass-baritone John Fiorito — "who is desperate to save his country from bankruptcy," the release notes. "His plan? To prevent the rich and beautiful heiress Hanna Glawari (to be sung by soprano Susana Diaz) from marrying a foreigner — thus keeping her fortune in place," the release continues. Baritone Andrew Garland will sing the part of Danilo, the handsome playboy, while Valencienne, the ambassador's wife, will be portrayed by soprano Lindsay Russell, the release adds. The role of Count de Rosillon will be performed by tenor Gregory Schmidt. % Andrew Garland/Contributed photo Sarasota News Leader May 2, 2014 Page 104