La Perichole by Offenbach, Sv 15 jan 2023, No (2022/2023), Režisēja Laurent Pelly, Diriģents Marc Minkowski, Théâtre des Champs-Elysées, Paris, France

At the origin of La Périchole, we find the story of the life of a Peruvian actress and courtesan Camila Périchole, itself inspired by that of a historical figure, Micaëla Villegas known as "la perra chola" (literally "bitch of mestizo"), who was in her time an actress and above all mistress of the Viceroy of Peru Don Manuel. Mérimée had already been inspired by it for her comedy Le Carrosse du Saint-Sacrement , where under the pen of Offenbach's librettists, she became a street singer. More “political” in its caricature of the power of the upper echelons than La Vie parisienne, La Périchole nevertheless exudes the immoral and libertine spirit that made the success of the musician. And as for La Vie parisiennefrom last winter are brought together here French singers who have all already brilliantly rubbed shoulders with this repertoire which requires both musicality and theatricality. And what about the Marc Minkowski – Laurent Pelly tandem to set to music and stage this comic opera which likes to graze with the absurd of the situation? The conductor made it the first recording on historical instruments for the Palazzetto Bru Zane and Laurent Pelly brilliantly explored almost all the facets of the musician (this is the fourteenth work by Offenbach that he has staged). In short, how can we not succumb to getting carried away too?