27th October

Concert will begin at 19:04 hours GMT

Offenbach's 'Barkouf' with Klink, Kristinsson, Kabongo and Koch from Cologne

Offenbach's 'Barkouf' is an opéra bouffe in three acts to a French libretto by Eugène Scribe and Henry Boisseaux, after Abbé Blanchet. Market day in (a mythical) Lahore. The two market vendors Maïma and Balkis tout their wares. Bababeck, the corrupt cupbearer of the incumbent governor, flirts with the young women. He is a widower and already a bit older, but imagines himself to be attractive and yearns for the day when, having married off his unattractive daughter Périzade, he will be able to devote himself entirely to a life as a bachelor. From nearby, the sound of an uprising fills the air. Bababeck, suspecting the worse, hurries to his house across from the palace. Performers:

Bababeck: Matthias Klink.
The Great Mogul: Bjarni Thor Kristinsson.
Saëb, officer: Patrick Kabongo.
Kaliboul, eunuch: Martin Koch.
Xaïloum: Sunnyboy Dladla.
Maïma: Susanne Elmark.
Balkis: Judith Thielsen.
Périzade: Kathrin Zukowski.

Oper Köln Choir. Gürzenich-Orchester Köln. Conductor: Stefan Soltesz.

Recorded this month.