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Dog Sultan's Opera: A Tale of Barking Mad Brilliance
5 Oct
Summary
- Opera Rara revived Offenbach's 1860 operetta Barkouf, previously lost.
- A dog is appointed Sultan of Lahore, ushering in an enlightened despotism.
- A fine cast, orchestra, and narrator brought the rediscovered work to life.
Jacques Offenbach's 1860 operetta, Barkouf, once critically panned and largely forgotten, has been revived by Opera Rara. This production reconstructs the work, presenting a tale where a dog is appointed Sultan of Lahore.
The opera, composed shortly after Offenbach's successful "Orpheus in the Underworld," faced harsh criticism for its lyrics and harmonic conventions. Despite these early setbacks, Offenbach's energetic score contains many original ideas and witty melodies.
Under the direction of Paul Daniel, the Hallé and the English National Opera Chorus, alongside a French-speaking cast, brought Barkouf to life. Anne-Catherine Gillet excelled as Maïma, the market seller who interprets the canine Sultan's commands, supported by Valerie Eickhoff and Mathias Vidal. Alistair McGowan provided engaging, rhyming narration.
