Offenbach’s irreverent romp features some of the funniest dialogue and daftest situations in French opera. Originally written to satirize the government of Napoleon III’s France, here the action is updated to the present day, as director Oliver Mears (Artistic Director of Northern Ireland Opera) draws gleeful parallels with our media-savvy, celebrity-obsessed world.

Eurydice is married to Orpheus, a musician who, in her opinion, plays the violin badly. Fed up with her husband, she falls for the randy and devious Pluto and is soon caught up in a somewhat hellish situation. Meanwhile, bored to tears and spying an interesting situation unfolding, Public Opinion muscles in to ‘help’ Orpheus rescue his wife. But does she want to be rescued?

Offenbach’s catchy tunes and wicked sense of humour take the characters from one ridiculous situation to another, all culminating in his riotous ‘Cancan’. With a specially-commissioned translation by comedian and political satirist Rory Bremner, this promises to be a fast-moving evening of wit, mayhem and madness.
 

Please note: Contains some adult content - recommended for ages 14+

NEW PRODUCTION
New translation by Rory Bremner

Touring to Northern Ireland from 27 October to 4 November - see niopera.com for more details.  Also touring to London's Young Vic in December - see below to book.