A BROADWAY HIT: LES P´TITES MICHU BY A. MESSAGER

“The Little Michus” thrilled with its “delicious cocktail of charm, humour and gaiety” (Opéra Magazine)

“Les p´tites Michu”, composed in 1897 by Frenchman André Messager, was such a hit, that it even made it to Broadway. The story is about the life and love of two unrelated girls growing up together. Believing they are twin sisters, they cause a twisted game of misunderstandings for everyone they encounter.

The young creative team, led by Nantes' stage director Rémy Barché, rediscovered this operetta with a jazzy bright coloured, cheerful stage design: Not only was the scenography dipped in pink, lobster-red or dark blue, but also were the female performers clad in vivid colours. Costume designer Soria Steenkiste made the two sisters, Marie-Blanche (Violett Polchi) and Blanche-Marie (Anne-Aurore Cochet), look like twinning college girls. Men were wearing pink suits or rose-sequinned caps with labelled sweaters.

Messager’s refined and accessible music was performed with gusto by the Orchestre National des Pays de la Loire and the Chœur d’Angers Nantes Opéra team. With award-winning Pierre Dumoussad, a “young conductor to watch out for” (ConcertClassic) was on the rostrum. Without fail, “frank laughter […] throughout the performance” (Olyrix) are guaranteed!

An Heliox Films production in association with Unitel.