Description:

≪Offenbach's operetta masterpiece "Life in Paris", along with "Orphée in Hell", "Hélène the Beauty", and "Bluebeard", was performed in Paris in 1867, at the height of the reign of Napoleon III, just before the Universal Exposition. The time is Paris at the height of the reign of Napoleon III, just before the World's Fair of 1867. The operetta, which caricatured the world and the wealthy foreign tourists who visited the city, was a record-breaking hit. This recording of a restored performance of the work in its original form is presented by the Palazzetto Bru Zane (French Romantic Music Center), founded in 2009 with the mission of rediscovering and internationally promoting France's musical heritage, especially from the 19th century. The production features a superb cast of singers, including Jodie Devos, Frank Luggerinel, and Marc Moyon, all of whom are essential to Offenbach's operettas, brilliant stage design and direction by Christiane Lacroix, and the up-and-coming conductor Romain Dumas, whose baton leads us through a melancholy, yet sometimes melodramatic, musical performance. The up-and-coming conductor, Romain Dumas, leads us through a melancholy music that is at times melancholy, but at the same time delightful. The Offenbach operettas are a triumvirate of three perfect songs, and this is a must-see video of them. (C)RS