“The Triad” at the Asia Society: a Gallery

Etta Fung as Coraline Etta Fung as Coraline

Le toréador (1849) is a opéra-comique by Adolphe Adam, a French composer best known for the ballet Giselle. The story is of a ménage–a–trois between an erstwhile soprano, her oft–absent and unfaithful husband, and a previous lover. The work features famous variations on the folk–song Ah! vous dirai–je, maman (better known as Twinkle, twinkle, little star in the English–speaking world). This semi–staged performance resets the story in contemporary Hong Kong as The Triad, or Three in Accord (retaining the musical pun in the original French title Le toréador, ou L’accord parfait).

 

 

The premiere took place on 6 June 2024 at the Asia Society as part of the French May. It featured Etta Fung as Coraline, Chen Yong as Tracolin and Isaac Droscha as Don Belflor with Hsu Wei-en on piano. Ashley Chiu played the non-singing role of Caritéa.

The production received the “Prix art et culture” of the 2024 Grand Prix France Hong Kong from the Petit Journal” and the French Consulate General.