Search - Jacques Offenbach, Helmuth Froschauer, WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln :: Offenbach: Coscoletto

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Brett Farrell | Cape May, NJ USA | 04/19/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Another Offenbach treasure resurected from the cruel oblivion it seemed destined to forever remain lost in! And what a treasure it is indeed. Full of Offenbachs 'to be expected' charm, wit, and melody! From his typically enrapturing overture to the 'hellenesque' opening aria that vocally paints ancient, beautiful, and rolling Naples before it evolves into a delicous can-can. From the following and many unforgetable duets sprinkled through out, the grand Act 1 finale, the spritely 'Du bist dir also sicher?' of act 2, to the brilliant finale and everything in between there is not a single piece you would want to skip in this opera.

Through out this whole work you can hear 'La belle Helen' 'La Vie Parisian' 'Barbe bleu' and all of the best known works of Offenbach! All the charm of Offenbach's reign over the 2nd Empire there for anyone who can hear it...

Now for some information on the piece. Coscoletto was written in 1865 in Bad Ems, the place where Offenbach went to ease his ailments and which also served as a place of inspiration for the composer. He wrote Les Bavards and Princesse de Trebizonde there as well. Coscoletto's plot involves love, orgies, scandals, and the like all taking place in Roman Naples during the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius. It is in two acts and two CD's and all sung in German since the original French version has disapeared. There are notes in the booklet in German, English, and French but the Libretto is only in german.

All in all this is a wonderful addition to anyones Offenbach collection and is a generally addictive opera. You'll be humming songs to yourself for months afterwards."