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The birthday of the Prince of Pontevedro is celebrated at the Pontevedrian embassy in Paris. The Pontevedrin ambassador in Paris, Baron Zeta, devises a plan to safeguard the widow Hanna Glawari’s millions so that they do not fall into the hands of a foreigner. He requests his secretary, Count Danilo Danilowitsch, to marry this wealthy and cheerful widow to ensure that her inheritance remains in the homeland. This Danilo was already in love with Hanna before her marriage, but could not marry her at the time due to a difference in status. Now he doesn’t want to marry her fearing that she would think he is after her money. However, he will ensure that Hanna does not fall into the hands of a rival. Hanna initially takes his disinterest as a challenge, but gradually loses interest in him. The ambassador’s wife, Valencienne, has great difficulty keeping her lover Camille de Rosillon at bay. Baron Zeta, unknowingly, catches his wife with her lover. However, the clerk Njegus manages to switch the two women Hanna and Valencienne just in time, so that the baron only sees Hanna and Camille together. It becomes too dangerous for Valencienne and she pushes Camille towards Hanna, making Danilo jealous. Danilo then decides to declare his love for Hanna and Valencienne makes it clear to her husband that she is an honorable woman.
