La Perichole is one of Offenbach's best-known works, very tuneful and funny--really, a musical comedy for opera singers. It's
about a pair of street singers/lovers who get involved with the Viceroy of Peru when he takes a fancy to the girl, and there's a
lot of satire about court politics and also sly references to grand opera that few people nowadays would get but which were
unmistakable to Parisians of the day. You might want to sample the music to see if it interests you; there have been several
recordings (including one in Russian), and a fine one with Teresa Berganza, but the best is the Markevitch on EMI.
As for Clo-Clo, it is so seldom performed that this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The first half of Lehar's career is
made of guiltless comedies with a few serious works slipped in, and the second half is made of sad romances with, more or
less, one guiltless comedy slipped in, and Clo-Clo is the comedy. So while Paganini, Der Zarewitsch, Friederike, Das Land
des Laechelns, and Giuditta are filled with passionate love music of great melodic power (which why they are still done
today, at least in Central Europe), Clo-Clo is more like The Merry Widow, but not as rich in great tunes. It says something
that it has never been recorded. On the other hand, if you do see it, you'll have something to tell your grandchildren
someday: I saw Clo-Clo. |
