Michael Alexander Willens - Offenbach (1819-1880) Le Violoneux, Le 66 : Willens / Kolner Akademie, Buendia, Chaumien, Noguera (2022 Stereo) - Import CD

Credits:

Michael Alexander Willens

Description:

In 1855, Jacques Offenbach established the Bœuf Parisien Theater in Paris for performances of opera bœufs and operettas. Although the theater was small, with a seating capacity of about 300, it was located directly across from the main entrance to the Paris Exposition Universelle, which attracted a large number of visitors and brought Offenbach a great deal of success. The premiere of "The Fiddler" (subtitled "The Legend of Brittany") took place in the summer of that year. Hortense Schneider, who sang the leading role in this production, gave a wonderful performance that captivated the audience and became very popular. The following year, on July 31, 1856, "66," also in one act, was premiered with great success. Like "The Fiddler," "66" had only three characters. Despite its small scale, it is an enjoyable work that effectively uses Tyrolean folk music with a touch of irony. Incidentally, the "66" in the title refers to the lottery numbers purchased by the main character, Franz. The Cologne Academy's performance of this piece, performed in period style on 19th century instruments, conveys the atmosphere of the first performance. Naxos Japan