Lehár’s The Merry Widow (12 performances, Nov. 27-Jan. 19): Not seen at San Francisco Opera since 1981, Lehár’s popular operetta returns with a new production directed by Lotfi Mansouri. Sharing the role of Hanna Glawari, the Merry Widow, are sopranos Noëmi Nadelmann and Alexandra von der Weth (both in their Company debuts), and mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade. Baritones Rodney Gilfry and Bo Skovhus portray Count Danilo, with mezzo-soprano Angelika Kirchschlager and soprano Isabel Bayrakdarian (in her Company debut) as Valencienne and tenor Gregory Turay as Camille de Rosillon. Featuring a new dialogue script by award-winning playwright Wendy Wasserstein, The Merry Widow will be conducted by Erich Kunzel (making his Company debut) with sets by Michael Yeargan, costumes by Thierry Bosquet and lighting by Jennifer Tipton.