But in Emilio Sagi's well-crafted and elegant production of the Spanish operetta, which opened at Vienna's Theater an der Wien on Monday, you can't help feeling it's Vidal she really wants. Especially when the role is as seductively sung as by Spanish opera star Placido Domingo.
For all his 67 years, Domingo, perhaps the most versatile and durable of that Trio Infernale -- the Three Tenors -- is still irresistible.
In terms of sheer musicality and beauty of tone, he can easily outsing any of today's young upstarts.
In the libretto to "Luisa Fernanda", co-written by Frederico Romero and Guillermo Fernandez Shaw, the end is fairly unambiguous: Vidal, recognising that Luisa loves Javier, altruistically renounces his own feelings for his fiancee.
But as director Sagi explains in an article for the production's programme, it's not quite as simple as that.
"In the end, Luisa's not quite sure. In fact, at this particular point, she's more drawn to the loveable Vidal," he writes. "For this reason, I decided to leave it open-ended."
Vocally, too, it's by no means a clear victory for the younger man.
Madrid-born Israel Lozano, winner of the 2003 Placido Domingo International Operalia Competition, sings the role of Javier with all the necessary ardour. His steel-tendoned tenor is coated in honey and he hits the high notes with near effortless ease.
But, for all Lozano's assuredness, Domingo -- who has himself sung the role of Javier countless times -- remains in a class of his own, the rich veneer of his tone showing no signs of age.
Officially, Vidal is a baritone role. But it's a high baritone, much closer to the tenor that Domingo is famous for.
Domingo was born to two zarzuela performers, themselves famous interpreters of the lead roles of Moreno Torroba's operetta, and it's clear from his very first entrance he has zarzuela in his blood.
To be honest, the singer could do no wrong here in Vienna anyway. As soon as he makes his first appearance, the audience cheered and applauded without him having sung a note. Domingo is scheduled to receive his own star on the Austrian capital's Musical Mile of Fame later this month.
But in his big arias in Acts II and III, Domingo leaves no doubt that "Luisa Fernanda" is his show.
That said, the rest of the cast is every bit his match.
Spanish-born mezzo, Maria Jose Montiel, is in gleaming, luminous voice in the title role.
And French shooting star soprano Patricia Petibon is true luxury casting in the role of Luisa's rival, Duchess Carolina.
In the pit, Spanish maestro Josep Caballe Domenech draws admirable playing from the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra. But they lack that extra bit of Spanish spice to be truly idiomatic in Moreno Torroba's light, lyric score with its graceful flow of seemingly limitless melody and colourful orchestration.
Like Domingo, Spanish director Sagi also has sterling zarzuela credentials.
Sagi's grandfather was the original Vidal, creating the role when "Luisa Fernanda" was premiered in 1932 and Sagi himself has directed in numerous zarzuela houses.
His staging in Vienna, which comes via the Teatro Real of Madrid and the Washington and Los Angeles operas, is clean and elegant, stylised in black and white with moving rectangles of light.
The peasants' costumes, all natural fibres, look good and those for the principals are tasteful updates of traditional Spanish costumes.
The production, part of the Theater an der Wien's "Opera in Summer" season, runs for four more performances until July 18.
