The Star by Chabrier, From (2024/2024), Directed by Mark Burns, Conductor Martin Pickard, Benjamin Huth, RNCM, Manchester, United Kingdom

It’s written in the stars! Step into the eccentric and quirky world of Emmanuel Chabrier’s L’étoile, an opéra bouffe bursting with wit, satire, and fantastical music. First performed in 1877, this opera unfolds in a fictional kingdom where King Ouf I, notorious for celebrating his birthday with a public execution, meets his match in the spirited peddler Lazuli. In disguise, whilst searching for his next victim, King Ouf encounters Lazuli who is heartbroken over a lost love. After a heated exchange, the king sentences Lazuli to death only to be thwarted by the royal astrologer Siroco, whose predictions reveal Lazuli’s fate is closely linked to the king’s own mortality. Consequently, Lazuli is spared and lavished with luxuries, but remains closely watched as he plots to win the heart of Laoula, the woman he loves. A rollercoaster of humorous events, mistaken identities, and comical disguises ensues. The opera’s zaniness peaks with the outrageous tickling trio and a sneezing aria, culminating in a surprising yet heartwarming resolution. Chabrier’s effervescent and sophisticated score, considered a masterpiece by Stravinsky and held in the highest esteem by Debussy and Ravel, enchants with its inventive flair, and leads listeners on a whimsical and joyously entertaining journey. Join us for a night where the cosmos and comedy converge and let the magical world of L’étoile captivate you!