La Perichole [Blu-ray]

Product Description ?La Perricholi – in reality, Micaela Villegas – was Lima’s leading theatrical l lady in the 1770s when Peru was a Spanish colony. Her life was fictionalised in a one-act play by Prosper Mérimée and a libretto was fashioned on which Offenbach created his opéra bouffe La Périchole, reflecting the creative mania in Paris at the time for Spanish life and art. La Périchole and Piquillo, her lover and companion in misfortune, are impoverished street singers. Meanwhile the Viceroy Don Andrès de Ribeira wishes to make her his lover. In music of vivacious rhythms including boleros, seguidillas and rich arias, Offenbach plays out their love against a broader social canvas. Review “Stéphanie d’Oustrac takes the title role with aplomb and a warm mezzo... Philippe Talbot’s tenor is sweet and he makes much of his Act 3 aria; in fact the whole cast has a ball. Julien Leroy conducts with vigour and has a good sing-along with his cast at the curtain calls.” 4* Opera Now: July 2023 “The cast line-up is excellent and the portrayals of street entertainers La Périchole and Piquillo are brilliant… This production displays an expected high level of technical competence in vision and sound, as found in recent Naxos productions.” MusicWeb International: 26th June – 2nd July 2023