The story takes place in early 20th-century Paris. To celebrate the birthday of the king of Pontevedro, the country’s ambassador to Paris, Baron Zeta, hosts a grand ball for diplomatic guests. The most important guest at this ball is the young widow Hanna Glawari. Hanna, beautiful and charming, had married a wealthy elderly banker from Pontevedro, but her husband died shortly after the wedding, leaving her a vast fortune. When Hanna arrives in Paris with her inheritance, she immediately becomes the target of numerous bachelors—including the likes of Cascada and Brioche—who are eager to win her hand. To prevent Hanna’s enormous wealth from being taken out of Pontevedro, Baron Zeta orders the young and handsome embassy officer Danilo to court her. Danilo, however, strongly resists—because Hanna is none other than the woman he once deeply loved. Years ago, Danilo’s aristocratic family disapproved of Hanna’s commoner background, forcing the lovers apart. Hanna married the old banker in..