Opera in brief: Georges Bizet’s “Le docteur Miracle” premieres at the Guangzhou Opera House

A “fairy-tale” family/children’s version of George Bizet’s opéra-comique Dr Miracle premiered at the Guangzhou Opera House on 30 September 2024 with six schedule performances.

Modern-day Laurette travels to a French fairy-tale where all her dreams come true. It has a new world-premiere arrangement for chamber ensemble by Marco Iannelli that includes original music featuring resettings of familiar French children’s songs (including “Ah! vous dirai-je, maman” — better-known as “Twinkle, twinkle little star”, “Frère Jacques”, “Au claire de la lune” and “Alouette”) for soprano and children’s chorus which, says Iannelli, “add some fairy-tale sparkle”. The new arrangement also interpolates additional music by Bizet from his other operas “Don Procopio” and “Carmen”.

 

 

According to Christophe Bagonneau, cultural attaché at the French Consulate in Guangzhou, “This year, Festival Croisements is celebrating in its own way the 60 years of diplomatic exchange between our two countries, and for this occasion it is taking the name ‘Croisements 60’. Born during the years of cross-fertilization between France and China, 2003 and 2004, what festival could, better than Croisements, commemorate these 60 years of cultural exchanges that have mutually enriched us. Bizet’s opérette, ‘Le Docteur miracle’, given this year by the Guangzhou Opera House, enriches the festival and is a fine example of this programming and of the cooperation between our two countries.”