Gilbert & Sullivan: Is Sexual Innuendo Imbedded in “HMS Pinafore”?
It is an accepted notion that Gilbert and Sullivan were careful to exclude anything in their comic operas that could
read moreHistory
Daniela Ziegler as the Grand Duchess of Gerolstein – and Other Offenbach Treats
The good news is: Daniela Ziegler finally gets to perform Offenbach and star in an operetta. At the Ernst Deutsch
read more
Where To Put an Offenbach Festival? Here Are Some Suggestions
If resources enough could be gathered together for an annual festival of Offenbach and maybe his time, where would it
read more
Offenbach and the Theatre Bouffe in Saint Petersburg, 1870-1878
Offenbach was introduced to the Russian stage when a French company played La belle Hélène at the Imperial Mikhailovsky Theatre
read more
“Offenbach, Musicien Européen” Or, Put Away the Sellotape
In the summer of 2019 researchers from all around the world gathered for a double conference in Cologne and Paris,
read more
Blackface and Crossdressing: The Great Minstrel ‘Prima Donnas’
In the 21st century, when it is considered oh-so-trendy for boys to dress up as girls, the trendy ones (and
read more
“The Pleasure Garden” and Its Place in the History of LGBT Musicals
In 2021, the “bittersweet musical romance” The Pleasure Garden premiered at the Above the Stag theater in London. It’s a
read more
The False Pirate; or, The Slave of Truth
The Jacques Offenbach Society Newsletter has published in its 101st issue (September 2022) a letter from Jacobo Kaufmann entitled “Copyists
read more
The Revue in Mediterranean Countries – A Conference in Athens
The Laboratory of Research and Documentation of Modern Greek Theatre of the Department of Theatre Studies of National and Kapodistrian
read more
Quirky and Esoteric: Sandy Wilson’s 1958 “Valmouth”
The show was commissioned from Sandy Wilson, the author-composer of The Boy Friend, by Oscar Lewenstein and the Royal Court Theatre as
read more
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 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 more
John 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 more
Revisting “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 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
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
“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
“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
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
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
“Le Photographe” By Meilhac & Halévy: The Template for “La Vie Parisienne”?
In the latest newsletter of the Jacques Offenbach Society (No. 98), there is a reprint of the full Meilhac &
read more
“Nanon, die Wirtin vom Goldenen Lamm“: Richard Genée‘s 1877 Hit Revisited
This operette in 3 acts by F Zell is based on the comédie-vaudeville Nanon, Ninon et Madame de Maintenon by
read more
An 18th Century Operetta Composer? First Recording Of Charles Dibdin’s “The Wags”
Charles Dibdin is often thought of, assuming he is thought of at all, as one of the links between the
read more
Kurt Gänzl’s “Gilbert and Sullivan: The Players and the Plays”
I feel very honoured and flattered to have been asked to write about the most important book to be written
read more
CIBOULETTE: Opérette in 3 acts by Reynaldo Hahn
The most successful stage musical work of Reynaldo Hahn, Ciboulette was written to a text by two of the most
read more
Richard Genée’s “Die Antisemiten” (1868): Solo Scene Translated Into English
With a title like Die Antisemiten (The Antisemites) attached to a “Grand Opera” you have the immediate attention of most
read more
Adam Benzwi Discusses “Dreigroschenoper” & Singing Brecht/Weill Today
Pianist and musical director Adam Benzwi was slated to premiere “his” Dreigroschenoper interpretation – in collaboration with stage director Barrie
read more
“Sissi, Queen of Hungary”: Huszka’s Operetta Turned Into A “National Heritage” Production
The Hungarian “Monarchia Operett” (Monarchy Operetta Company [1]), under the artistic direction of dance comedian and costume designer Péter Erik
read more
LA VIE PARISIENNE Opéra-bouffe in 4 (originally 5) acts by Jacques Offenbach
In the midst of Meilhac, Halévy and Offenbach’s dazzling series of successes with the earliest of their famous opéras-bouffes –
read more
“I Would Like To See More Women Writing About Operetta”: Micaela Baranello Discusses Her Book “The Operetta Empire”
The US-American musicologist Micaela Baranello joined the Department of Music at the University of Arkansas in 2017 and has recently
read more
Constance Drever: Creating “La Veuve joyeuse” With A Strong English Accent
The history of Die lustige Witwe has fascinated us, here at the Operetta Research Center, immensely over the past months.
read more
“V’lan dans l’oeil”: Folie musicale in 3 acts by Hervé
Hervé’s second attempt, after Les Chevaliers de la table ronde (1866), to produce a full-length burlesque opérette to challenge the
read more
The Incomparable Maudi Darrell: One-Time Darling Of London’s Gaiety Theatre
The story begins almost like a fairy tale: Once upon a time there were three brothers, George, Edward and John.
read more