Fantasio, concert version: Komische Oper Berlin
About the Event
A première after 125 years! For the first time, Offenbach's opéra comique Fantasio will sound the way the composer originally intended: with a tenor in the title role.
Dominique Horwitz, an actor and chansonnier with French roots, leads us through the plot about an unhappy princess and her student admirer.
On the eve of the wedding between the Princess of Bavaria and the Prince of Mantua, the people and students celebrate before the Munich palace, among them the student Fantasio, who overhears the princess as she secretly ponders her future. In order to learn more, he quickly decides to disguise himself as her recently deceased jester and thus enter the palace. The Prince of Mantua, who is expected at the palace, also swaps clothes with his adjutant in order to to put the princess's feelings to the test. This game of assumed identities soon begins to clash with the national interest, and vice versa.
Life punishes those who arrive late – this is sometimes also true of high art. Due to the Franco‐Prussian War, Fantasio was first staged in 1872, some two years after it was completed. The composer's utterly romantic world view had become completely superannuated in the break‐neck course of events during those few short years. Over a hundred years had to pass before people learned to appreciate this work with different eyes and ears. Time and again, the typically light‐hearted irony of this opéra comique gives way to deeply romantic and melancholy notes. This is both a revival and a new discovery at once.
Opéra comique in three acts (1872). Libretto by Paul de Musset, based on the comedy by Alfred de Musset.
Cast / Production
Musical Direction: Titus Engel
Chorus: David Cavelius
Moderation: Dominique Horwitz
Fantasio, a student: Tansel Akzeybek
The King of Bavaria: Carsten Sabrowski
Elsbeth, his daughter: Adela Zaharia
The Prince of Mantua: Dominik Köninger
Marinoni, his adjutant: Adrian Strooper
Flamel, Elsbeths page: Zoe Kissa
Choral soloists of the Komische Oper Berlin
