Johann Strauss’s “Aschenbrödel” (1899): A Modern-Day Cinderella Story Conducted By Ernst Theis
It’s not exactly a secret that Johann Strauss was a great dance music composer. Before he turned to operetta in
read moreAll posts by kevin
Hommage Mécanique: Jérôme Collomb’s Tribute to Jacques Offenbach
Before the dawn of the phonographic era and before iTunes came along you had to either go to the theater
read more
Spoliansky’s “Alles Schwindel” Returns To Berlin’s Gorki Theater Next Season
The good news is: Mischa Spoliansky’s modern-dating-chaos operetta Alles Schwindel (1931) is returning to Berlin’s Gorki Theater for the 2018/19
read more
Sophia Euskirchen & Jörn-Felix Alt Revive The Weimar Era: “Cabaret” Back In Berlin
It’s a weird and wonderful experience to sit in the Tipi-am-Kanzleramt tent, waiting for a performance of Kander & Ebb’s
read more
Trying To Define Opéra-Bouffe: An Article From “The Era” 1870 About “Chilpéric” At The Lyceum
In his 2 volume biography Emily Soldene: In Search of a Singer Kurt Gänzl chronicles the initial success of opéra
read more
Magic Mike Live. Or: What About The Objectification Of Men In Operetta?
In a recent article for The Times, Jamie Stoker reported on casting for London’s Magic Mike Live. The headline says
read more
Offenbach In The USA: What’s Happening For The 2019 Bicentenary?
In 1980, the classical music world marked the 100th anniversary of Jacques Offenbach’s death. And for this greatest of ‘life
read more
“The Pretty Polish Girl Who Sat Astride Her Virtue”: Early Opéra-Bouffe Star Joseph Kelm (1805-1882)
My last post and its original five pictures, borrowed from the gold mines of Blois, included four taken from the
read more
Ein Interview mit Henning Hagedorn über die Rekonstruktion (und das Spielen) von Ábraháms Zentralpartituren
Herr Hagedorn, seit Sie mit Ihrem Kollegen Matthias Grimminger angefangen haben für den WDR und die dortige Ábrahám-Aufführungsserie Partituren von
read more
‘Authentic’ Operetta Productions At Ohio Light Opera? Plus A Festival Symposium
Enterprising Ohio Light Opera, ever devoted to ‘authentic’ productions from the world of musical comedy and operetta, seems to go
read more
Team Spirit, The Importance Of Good Looks, And Singing Tauber Roles: A Conversation With Tenor Maximilian Mayer
If you’re following the Operetta Research Center news feeds you will have heard of tenor Maximilian Mayer before: he was
read more
National Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company: Sullivan’s “Haddon Hall”
This year the International G & S Festival, as well as the National G & S Company are celebrating their
read more
National Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company: “Ruddigore” At Buxton Opera House
This summer the historic Frank Matcham designed Buxton Opera House, built in 1903 and seating 902, was host to the
read more
National Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company: “The Sorcerer” & “Trial By Jury”
This year the National G & S Opera Company celebrates its silver jubilee with six new productions. I was invited
read more
Andreas Homoki’s “Land des Lächelns” From Zurich: Starring Piotr Beczala
Everyone knows that Lehár had a not-so-secret longing for the ‘grand operatic’ and devoted the latter part of his long
read more
W H Payne: Reconstructing The Career Of A Pantomime Artist And Supreme Clown
When you are researching the past, and the answers and facts don’t fall obviously into place, you just have to
read more
A Season Full Of Surprises: New Productions in 2018/19 Of Strauss, Offenbach, Beer And Jessel
It’s this time of year when theaters around Germany and Austria are advertising their upcoming productions for the 2018/19 season.
read more
“La Princesse de Trébizonde”: Opéra-bouffe in 2 acts by Jacques Offenbach
Originally produced at Baden-Baden during the 1869 summer season, with the young Mdlle Périer in its principal travesty rôle, La
read more
“Die Blume von Hawaii” beim Lehár-Festival Bad Ischl. Oder: Jonny als alter ego Pál Ábraháms?
Lehár Festival Bad Ischl 2018. Das Konzert- und Kongresshaus gleicht einem Bienenstock, Publikum strömt herbei während das Ensemble sich einstimmt
read more
“Im weißen Rössl” At Renaissance Theater Berlin: Drowning A Fun Show In Melancholy
It will come as no surprise when I say that Im weißen Rössl holds an extra-special place in my heart,
read more
“Operette für zwei schwule Tenöre”: Reviving the Genre for Today’s LGBT Community
It started out as a small concert performance at Schwules Museum in Berlin in the context of a Siegfried Wagner
read more
Amy Sheridan: Royal Milkmaid, Queen Of Burlesque, And Concubine
Amy Sheridan was something of a phenomenon. When she died, in 1878, at a Brighton boarding house, aged 39, of
read more
“Shooting Star”: A Romantic Musical Comedy About The Gay Porn Industry? Interview With Composer Thomas Zaufke
A few weeks ago, the new musical Shooting Star was presented in New York City in the form of an
read more
“Make Me Look Beautiful, Madame D’Ora!” Or: Revivisting Elsie Altmann And The Viennese Operetta Soubrette
Ah, yes: Madame D‘Ora! She’s been one of my great operetta heroines, ever since I first found her portrait of
read more
“Csardasfürstin” At Staatsoperette Dresden: With A Right-Wing Chancellor Of Austria Deporting Gypsys
Every self-respecting operetta company needs a production of one of the 20th century’s greatest operettas: Kalman’s Die Csardasfürstin. Whether Dresden
read more
“Der Bettelstudent” At Theater Pforzheim: Making The Genre Relevant For A 21st Century Audience?
The excellent (and beautifully illustrated) programme calls Der Bettelstudent “one of the best-loved of all the Golden Age Viennese operettas.”
read more
“Wie einst im Mai” At The Summer Festival in Neustrelitz
Neustrelitz is a small, historic, beautiful, charming, quiet town, set amidst the lakes north of Berlin. For British readers: can
read more
National Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company: “The Pirates of Penzance”
The Pirates of Penzance must be Gilbert and Sullivan’s most staged operetta and, as a director, it must be difficult
read more
“Carmen Jones” Revived By Classic Stage Company
The revival of Oscar Hammerstein II’s very clever 1943 updating of Bizet’s Carmen – a big hit in its day
read more
“Hervé par lui-même” Presented By Pascal Blanchet At Palazzetto Bru Zane
It has been a splendid winter. Three new musical-theatre works – one English, two French – have crossed my desk,
read more
Revisiting G. B. Shaw And Oscar Straus: Bravo Munich!
I’ve got a book and a CD to review, plus family arriving in a few days, and a bottle of
read more
“Broadway Sampler: 1915.” Twenty-Five Musicals And Twenty-Six Songs
You might remember the CD series The Broadway Musicals of… created, written and hosted by Scott Siegel. They started, thematically,
read more
Künneke’s “Herz über Bord”: A New Recording Of The Complete Score With Wayne Marshall
When Eduard Künneke presented his syncopated Der Vetter aus Dingsda in Berlin 1921, it was quite revolutionary to have so
read more
A Queer Alternative To Football: Barbra Streisand’s “Nose” At Komische Oper Berlin
What do you do when all the world is abuzz with football, and you don’t give as f*** about ballgames?
read more
“Der tapfere Soldat”: What Recordings Are There Of The 1908 Oscar Straus Show?
Munich’s recently renovated and re-opened Gärtnerplatz Theater just offered a brand-new staging of The Chocolate Soldier, in the original German
read more
Dance: The Secret Star Of Operetta? Giorgio Madia’s Two New Strauss Productions
It is astonishing that one of the main elements of almost every operetta – dance! – is so undervalued today.
read more