Fly 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 moreAll posts by kevin
A 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 more
DIE 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 more
Benatzky’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 more
Enrique 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 more
Tick 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 more
Reviving 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 more
Jean 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 more
Bringing 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 more
Isaac 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 more
Opening 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 more
42nd 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 more
Barrie 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 more
A 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 more
Spain 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 more
Exploring 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 more
Turning “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 more
The 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 more
Remembering 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 more
The 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 more
Hanns 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 more
Declaration 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 more
Kurt 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 more
Operetten-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
read more
Rediscovering Marcel Lattès’ Swing Operetta “Le Diable à Paris” (1927)
I knew that I should enjoy this 1927 French operetta directly after I read Richard Traubner’s dismissal of Marcel Lattès
read more
Young, Versatile & Hungry: James Gaffigan New Music Director At Komische Oper Berlin
So, now it’s official: James Gaffigan will be the new music director of Komische Oper Berlin. The 43 year old
read more
Homage to Carl Michael Ziehrer: The Vienna Philharmonic New Year’s Concert 2022
It’s only a few days now, and the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra will be at their exercise again. Their 1 January
read more
“From Gold to Silver”: Ziehrer’s Life & Musical Works
Carl Michael Ziehrer (1843-1922) and his music have always been overshadowed by the achievements of the Strauss dynasty, and this
read more
Marthaler’s Joyless “Giuditta” In Munich
One should have known this would happen. If you hire the 70-year-old Christoph Marthaler, you get exactly that: Marthaler. He
read more
“Hurra! Wir sind wieder da!” – New Year’s Concert in Marzahn
No, the Marzahn district in East-Berlin is probably not what first comes to mind when thinking of operetta. But: on
read more