The Knoxville Opera will present Franz Lehar’s “The Merry Widow,” a co-production with the University of Tennessee that will feature students performing alongside principal artists, conducted by UT’s Dr. Kevin Class and directed by Dean Anthony. The romantic comedy  follows a group of Pontevedrians living in Paris as they try to convince the titular widow, Hanna Glawari, to marry a Pontevedrian so her vast wealth won’t leave the country. Operatic high jinks ensue as Hanna and Count Danilo literally dance around their romantic feelings for each other.