Chabrier's L'Étoile wins 2019 Diapason d'Or!

Laurent Pelly's enchanting stage production filmed at Dutch National Opera now on DVD.

King Ouf I, monarch of a fantasy realm, celebrates his birthday each year with a public execution, both for his own pleasure and that of his subjects, on the grounds of lèse-majesty. This year, the disrespectful pedlar Lazuli looks set to be next victim, after having boxed the king's ears. But the court astrologer warns Ouf that his stars are so closely linked to Lazuli's that the king himself will soon die as well.
The comic plot and the main characters' belief that the stars control their destiny make L'Étoile one of the most entertaining works in the genre. Chabrier set a high-spirited libretto with considerable theatrical potential to brilliant music.

A dreamcast for a show on which blows a gentle wind of madness à la Prévert: L'Étoile, the opera buffa of Chabrier, finally finds its video version. © 2019 Diapason

In the pit, Patrick Fournillier has all the grace and lightness of touch… © 2019 Gramophone

The recorded sound and picture are excellent, as is François Rousillon's stylish video direction. © 2019 Opera News

FRAprod is proud to continue publishing with Naxos the French repertoire: Thomas' Hamlet, Gounod's The Bleeding Nun and more to come in 2020.