Offenbach’s Dream Waltz
Jacques Offenbach
Excerpts from Offenbach’s operas.
Libretto by Barthélémy Fortier.
Premiered on March 20, 2026 at the Opéra-Comique in Paris.
Touring opera.
Production of the Théâtre national de l’Opéra-Comique.
Infos
Colmar
Théâtre municipal de Colmar
Mulhouse
La Sinne
Strasbourg
Opéra, Salle Ponnelle
No intermission.
Cast
Conception musicale Guillemette Daboval Responsable musicale Sandrine Abello Mise en scène et livret Barthélémy Fortier Décors Hernán Peñuela Costumes Alain Blanchot Opéra Studio de l’Opéra national du Rhin
Artists
Sopranos Jessica Hopkins, Naïma Wanshe Mezzo-soprano Inès Prevet Ténor Arwen Tanguy Baryton Eduard Ferenczi Gurban Piano Vinicius Costa, Anaëlle Reitan
Presentation
Jacob treasures a music box that plays the waltz his late mother used to sing to him. When he discovers it broken, the young boy embarks on a quest to recover the cherished melody. He drifts from one daydream to another—yet what if these adventures truly happened? Inspired by this singular moment from the composer’s life, director Barthélémy Fortier and musical director Guillemette Daboval have crafted a delightfully imaginative and sparkling comic opera. The production showcases the composer’s iconic works, from The Beautiful Helen and King Carrot to Orpheus in the Underworld and The Tales of Hoffmann.
Like a group of children building a den in their bedroom, five singers assemble the set right before the audience’s eyes, transforming a bowl of water into a vast ocean, a bedsheet into a Roman toga, and a fold of origami into a sailor’s cap. Everyday objects become puppets animated on strings, brought to life through shadow play. This charming and inventive approach pays homage not only to Offenbach and the innocence of childhood but also to the enchantment of opera and theatre, the magic of the stage, and the boundless power of imagination.
In french.
