Chabrier: L'Etoile

L’Étoile did much to establish Chabrier as a major force on the Parisian stage and his contemporary Henri Duparc praised him specifically for creating a French comic genre, both funny and musical – described as something of a French Die Meistersinger. The fanciful story is set in an imaginary kingdom and all, naturally, ends well. However, despite the slight plot line L’Étoile is something of a pivotal work, a unique example of French 19th-century light opera, orchestrated with great sophistication and flooded with gossamer wit. Artists Stéphanie d'Oustrac (Lazuli), Christophe Mortagne (King Ouf), Hélène Guilmette (Princess Laoula), Jérôme Varnier (Siroco), Julie Boulianne (Aloès), François Piolino (Tapioca), Elliot Madore (Prince Hérisson de Porc-Epic) Residentie Orkest The Hague, Chorus of Dutch National Opera, Patrick Fournillier, Laurent Pelly