Aspects of “Barbe-bleue”: Essays on Musical Theater Versions of the Bluebeard Legend
Here’s a brand-new bundle of essays on musical theater version of the Bluebeard legend, published in a special edition of
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“Mein Kamerad – die Diva”: Cross-Dressing Exhibition in Berlin
The topic of cross-dressing in operetta – as well as anywhere else in life and theater – is a hot
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Fritzi Massary Revisited: An Interview With Her New Biographer
Take a deep breath and prepare yourself: there will be – finally – a new and English language biography of
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Stefan Frey’s Biography of Emmerich Kálmán – in English
In 2003, Henschel Verlag of Berlin published Unter Tränen lachen, a German-language “operetta biography” of composer Emmerich Kálmán. The author,
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“Yellowface, in Your Face”: Is “The Mikado” Racist?
In Seattle, a new production of The Mikado by the local Gilbert & Sullivan Society has sparked a heated debate
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A Trip to Ohio. Or: Six Operettas (And More) in Four Days
For the last five days, I’ve been in Ohio. Yes, Ohio, USA. Yes, I know I said, years ago, that
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Breathtaking Spectacle: “Gasparone” at the Naturtheater Greifensteine
It’s a breathtaking spectacle of nature: the Erzgebirge, the rough East-German mountains near the Czech border. In the midst of
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This Summer in Ohio: Seven Full-Scale Productions
Next week, the Ohio Light Opera is starting its 36th season – with 7 (in writing: seven!) productions on offer
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Queering the Pitch: An Interview With Kevin Clarke
In Amsterdam wurde 2006 das Operetta Research Center gegründet, das sich besonders der Erforschung von Gender- und LGBT-Themen widmet. Jetzt
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“The Funny He-She Ladies”: A New Book on Cross-Dressing in London
There is a new book by Neil McKenna about “Two Young Men Who Shocked Victorian England“ entitled Fanny & Stella.
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Dutch Operetta Today? Peter Bording Talks About A Desaster-Zone
Dutch baritone Peter Bording studied singing with Jan Handerson, graduated from the Sweelinck Conservatorium Amsterdam and concluded his studies at
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“Ball im Savoy”: Ábrahám’s Late American Premiere
Paul Abraham was, without doubt, the most „American“ sounding operetta composer in Europe in the early 1930s. His jazz-operettas, culminating
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“One Touch of Venus” from 1955
In the latest newsletter from the Kurt Weill Foundation, there’s a review of the new One Touch of Venus recording,
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Natschinski in Rüdersdorf
Das wird ein „heißer Sommer“ für Gerd Natschinski. Gerade hat die Musikalische Komödie Leipzig seinen „Freund Bunbury“ wiederaufgenommen, nach drei
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Another “Zirkusprinzessin” in Baden’s Sommerarena
Some say we’re living in the “Age of Aquarius,” I say we’re living in the times of the Zirkusprinzessin. Or
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A New “Jedermann” Will Rock Erfurt
Operettas can be spectacular – a point proven by grand masters such as Offenbach in 19th century Paris and Erik
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“Mein Freund Bunbury” Is Back in Leipzig
Three cheers to the Musikalische Komödie Leipzig! They have just taken Gerd Natschinski’s famous DDR operetta Mein Freund Bunbury back
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The 2014 Festival in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
You don’t know where Neustrelitz is? Then you have obviously never been on holiday in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the magical region north
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“Die Zirkusprinzessin” in Munich
Munich is getting a new Zirkusprinzessin, directed by Josef E. Köpplinger. That is, in itself and without doubt, a reason
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“Classic Ladies” in the Heart of Berlin
Tonight, right in the heart of Berlin and next to the football “Fan Mile”: A “Classic Ladies” concert on Gendarmenmarkt,
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Disney’s “Aladdin” a Big, Family Friendly Spectacle
Yes, the magic carpet does really fly! Just how those Disney wizards manage it without visible wires, we’ll never know.
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“Natoma”: Victor Herbert’s Grand Opera Live
Victor Herbert’s 1911 grand opera Natoma – not performed in its original form for over a century – was accorded
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Reviving “Axel an der Himmelstür” For Russia
You can call it amazing, it’s certainly reason enough for all operetta fans to listen up: In St. Petersburg a
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Zwischen Aufsässigkeit und Anpassung: Ralph Benatzky
“Was wird bleiben?” Kann bei der „leichten Muse“ überhaupt so hochgestochen gefragt werden? Immerhin wird hier von „Evergreens“ gesprochen! Das
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Reviving Cole Porter’s “The Ambassador Revue”
Last Friday at New York’s Town Hall marked a major event for historians of musical theatre. For one night only,
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Uli Scherbel Talks Operetta
At the 18th edition of the Schönebecker Operettensommer there’s a brand new Maske in Blau to be seen. While the
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The Very Model of a Modern-Day Burlesque
If you like Burlesque – in its historical form – you might enjoy Hostel Hermannstraße as performed by Ades Zabel
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What Is Your Favorite LGBT-Themed Show?
Last week-end, there were various Gay Pride Marches in the USA, but also in Europe. Our colleagues at Playbill.com took
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A “Fledermaus” in Tel Aviv
The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra will present a concert version of Die Fledermaus on July 6, at the Charles Bronfman Auditorium.
A Swiss Operetta Discotheque: Comparing “Csárdásfürstin” CDs
The Swiss Radio SRF2 will dedicate a whole program to comparing Csárdásfürstin recordings on CD. The host of the show
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Is “Maske in Blau” Worth Reviving?
Why Fred Raymond’s Maske in Blau (1937) is so popular right now, is anyone’s guess. But the show that contains
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Farewell to Sonja Mottl: A Funeral Speech for the Viennese Diva
Liebe Trauerfamilie, liebe Freunde von Sonja Mottl! Wir tragen heute wieder ein Stück Wiener Theatergeschichte zu Grabe, nehmen Abschied von
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Exporting Operette: The World Is Not Enough
What became eventually known as “operetta” or “opérette” didn’t start its life under that name. The earliest works of the
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Did Leo Fall Suffer From Serious Drug Addiction?
It’s always a good time to pay attention to Leo Fall (1873-1925) because his operettas – Der fidele Bauer, Die
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“Im weißen Rössl” Revisited
Most Germans are familiar-very familiar-with the White Horse Inn. That’s because the film version starring Peter Alexander and Waltraud Haas
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Coward & Novello
Noël Coward (1899-1973) and Ivor Novello (1893-1951), both English, both homosexual, were the two most enduring proponents of English language
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