Latest Articles
Revisiting the Emily Soldene Biography. Or: the Postscripta of Publication
When you have spent more than 20 years researching and writing a book, when you have lived and breathed the
read moreErnst Theis Conducts “Tonfilmschlager” from Nazi Times
“Can music be innocent?“ That‘s the first sentence in the booklet to this new CD of the Münchner Rundfunkorchester and
read more“The Grand Duke of Gerolstein”: A Milanese Byblow of the Grand Duchess
La Grande Duchesse de Gérolstein was, arguably, Offenbach’s first truly transglobal success. It benefitted from opening during the Exposition universelle
read moreJohn Philip Sousa’s “El Capitan” (1896)
One of the earliest successful comic operas to come out of America, El Capitan was also the one successful attempt
read moreOpera Rara Set to Record Offenbach’s “La Princesse de Trébizonde”
The British record label Opera Rara returns to the works of Jacques Offenbach – for the first time since they
read moreRevisting “Au Dahomey” (1892). Or: A Blackface King Béhazin?
I came upon this grand 1892 poster this week… I didn’t know anything about the show, my experience of the
read moreFly Me To The Moon: Kurt Kurt Gänzl reviews the new “Le Voyage dans la lune”
A new recording from Bru Zane? After their tremendous job with La Fille de Madame Angot, I am all agog.
read moreA Trip Back To The 1920s: Ben Zimmermann’s “Höchste Eisenbahn“ Album
This CD entitled Höchste Eisenbahn by actor Ben Zimmermann and pianist Mark McNeill is called a „Doku Revue der Goldenen
read more“Le Voyage Dans La Lune”: Offenbach’s 1875 Sci-Fi Spectacle
Three years and eight major shows after the splenditious production of Le Roi Carotte, Offenbach returned to the world of
read more“America in the French Imaginary” – A New Book That Sadly Forgets Operetta
“Music in Society and Culture” 1789-1914 we are informed on the cover of this new book. And then: “Following the
read moreDIE DUBARRY: Carl Millöcker’s Operette Adapted By Theo Mackeben
This update of the original 1879 Carl Millöcker operetta was created by Paul Knepler and Ignaz M Welleminsky who turned
read moreBenatzky’s “Meine Schwester und Ich“ at Theater Vorpommern
The Theater Vorpommern is a company that plays in various cities near the Baltic Sea in North-East Germany. Its opera
read moreEnrique Mejías García’s New Book “Offenbach, Composer of Zarzuelas”
Here’s great news: a new book on Offenbach is out! It is entitled Offenbach, Composer of Zarzuelas and has been
read more“I Am What I Am”: New Productions at Komische Oper after Barrie Kosky
Quo vadis, Komische Oper? That’s what many have been wondering. How will the new artistic directors continue the now world-famous
read moreTick tick … boom? Lotte de Beer’s First Season at Volksoper Wien
So, now we know what Lotte de Beer as the new artistic director of the Volksoper in Vienna had up
read moreReviving Jean Gilbert’s “Kinokönigin” (1913) à la Bob Fosse in Leipzig?
Let’s start with the positive side of this: Musikalische Komödie has put forgotten composer Jean Gilbert (1879-1942) back on stage
read moreJean Gilbert (1879-1942): One of the Most Successful Composers for the German Musical Stage
Gilbert was born as Max Winterfeld in Hamburg, 11 February 1879. He died in exile in Buenos Aires, 20 December
read more“Die Kino-Königin”: Operette in 3 Acts by Jean Gilbert
Jean Gilbert’s operetta with the original libretto by Georg Okonkowski premiered on 22 November 1912 at Deutsches Operettentheater, Hamburg, as
read moreBringing Victor Herbert’s “Mlle. Modiste” (1905) Back to New York
The ever-enterprising Victor Herbert Renaissance Project Live! concluded its shortened season with one of Herbert’s most popular titles, the 1905
read moreIsaac Albéniz’s “The Magic Opal” at the Teatro de la Zarzuela in Madrid
If not even a month ago the Teatro Campoamor in Oviedo invited us to take a magical journey to the
read moreOpening in New York: Barry Manilow’s “Harmony” About the Comedian Harmonists
The story of the six-member close harmony group known as Comedian Harmonists – the toast of Germany and elsewhere in
read more“Zauber der Bohème” at New York’s Austrian Cultural Forum
Back in 2020, I covered a press conference announcing the launch of an exhibit in Vienna under the auspices of
read more“Lachende Erben“, Or: Another Weinberger?
Carl [Rudolf Michael] Weinberger was born in Vienna on 3 April, 1861, and he died there on 1 November, 1939.
read more42nd Street: The First Complete Recording
I have just been on a very, very happy trip down memory boulevard. For a couple of years of my
read moreBarrie Kosky Will Direct “La Cage aux Folles” at Komische Oper Berlin
Many people have wondered what Barrie Kosky will do next in terms of popular musical theater at Komische Oper, once
read moreA Farcical Comedy: Victor Herbert’s “The Only Girl” Returns to New York
For a work that, for all its cherishable qualities, can hardly be said to rate as one of Victor Herbert’s
read moreSpain Invades Broadway: Rediscovering “The Land of Joy” at the Off-Festival in Oviedo
While German or Austrian theatres regularly programme classic Broadway musicals, Spain’s lyric theatres only rarely enter this attractive universe, though
read moreExploring Evelin Förster’s New Book Project: German Illustrated Sheet Music Covers as a Mirror of Society
Vamps, policemen, harem dancers, waiters, dandies, grotesque dancing couples, and film stars populate the covers of early twentieth century sheet
read moreTurning “Die lustige Witwe” into a 1920s Revue in Dortmund
At Theater Dortmund a new version of Die lustige Witwe presents the Lehár show as “a revue operetta” with a
read moreThe Winter Opera of Saint Louis & “The Gondoliers”
Online auditions; canceled flights; efforts to keep cast, orchestra and tech crew members healthy and protected; a scant five days
read moreRemembering Musical Theater Historian David Hummel
This isn’t an obituary. No facts. I never met Dave, though we have been in touch for half a century.
read moreThe Boys Are Back: “Operette für zwei schwule Tenöre” Returns To BKA With New Cast
The Operette für zwei schwule Tenöre by composer Florian Ludewig and text author Johannes Kram is back in Berlin for
read moreHanns Eisler: Couplets & Ballads With The Amazing HK Gruber
At first glance, Hanns Eisler doesn’t have much to do with operetta. But if you look closer, the very first
read moreDeclaration of Bankruptcy? “L’Auberge du Cheval blanc” from the Opéra de Lausanne
Encountering Im weißen Rössl in its French version can be a joy, as anyone knows who has ever heard Bourvil
read moreKurt Gänzl’s “The Musical: A Concise History” Revisited & Revised
The original edition of Kurt Gänzl’s The Musical came out in 1997, as a “Concise History” published by Northeastern University
read moreOperetten-Gesamtaufnahmen der letzten zehn Jahre: Ein Überblick
Operette hat Konjunktur. In den letzten Jahren sind (meist beim Label cpo) rund zwei Dutzend Aufnahmen auf CD erschienen, meist
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