Offenbach: Pariser Leben / Rothenberger

Anneliese Rothenberger (La Baronne de Gondremarck), Marko Bakker (Le Baron de Gondremarck), Adolf Dallapozza (Raoul de Gardefeu), Willi Brokmeier (Bobinet), Renate Holm (Métella), Gabriele Fuchs (Gabrielle), Elke Schary (Pauline), Martin Finke (Frick), Klaus Hirte (Le Brésilien) Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks & Münchner Rundfunkorchester, Willy Mattes

A wild party: Late 19th century Paris was a thoroughly modern city – not least thanks to all the urban reconstruction that had been carried out. Above all, the French capital had a reputation as the world centre of loose morals. In Offenbach’s operetta a Swedish baron and his wife fall into the hands of a local roué and con man, who tempts them to join in some wild partying and also relieves them of a lot of money: the piece is a racy satire about fleecing tourists and sexual permissiveness. Initially, it’s true, the organisers feared that the work’s frivolity would lead to repercussions – but audiences were delighted, and they still are thanks to Offenbach’s lively score and the witty libretto (sung here in the German version commissioned by the composer himself).

Price: $21.98