GRAND DUCHESS OF GEROLSTEIN-- LETTER CHORUS

From the start of his career, Offenbach and his writers skewered the establishment, and this didn't change when he became famous. Written in 1867, at the height of Offenbach's powers, the Grand Duchess was a huge hit with Parisians, as it hilariously satirized the military. It was later banned for a time after France lost the Franco-Prussian war. As its message still resonates today, the Comic Opera Guild and translator Thomas Petiet moved its setting up to World War 1, when modern technology clashed with 19th Century militarism. Similarly, 20th century war is also becoming obsolete today.

As Act 2 opens, Minister Dietz (Matt Peckham) is being harassed by ladies for news of the war. Nepomuc brings in letters from the front for all of them, and Olga (Amanda Dahlin), Isa (Sara Zeglevski), Amelie (Angela Torres-Kutkuhn) and Charlotte (Kathy Wipperman) discover that all is not well in war. Ultimately, they all decide it is nevertheless romantic. For more comic operas and operettas, visit comicoperaguild.org

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Grand Duchess of Gerolstein
• Offenbach
• Comic Opera Guild
• SARA ZEGLEVSKI
• ANGELA TORRES-KUTKUHN
• AMANDA DAHLIN
• KATHY WIPPERMAN
• Thomas Petiet
• Operetta