L'étoile

"Recommended: Chabrier's delightful comic opera is staged or recorded unbelievably rarely. This disc deserves a resounding welcome merely for existing - silly maybe, but why does such a gem remain neglected? It is cause for champagne that the performance is so excellent ... The players exchange occasional smiles, which suggests that they relish this music for its fun and wit. Fournillier, let me say straight away, is brilliant throughout ... Christophe Mortagne as Ouf is brilliant: hilarious acting and delightful vocal variety ... Stephanie d'Oustrac is superb in the trousers-role Lazuli ... I could not give a higher recommendation to this disc. All concerned have combined their superlative musicianship and stagecraft to give this gem the exposure it so deserves".

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"Vurdering: Diapason d'or".

"The music is marvellous in its deft wit, lightness of touch and refined yet exquisite sensuality ... d'Oustrac makes a terrific Lazuli, impulsive and witty, wonderfully seductive throughout the role's wide vocal range ... Fournillier has all the grace and lightness of touch that the production sometimes lacks. It's well worth hearing, whatever you think of Pelly's staging".

"Eine rare, komische Kostbarkeit ... In Amsterdam ... dirigiert Patrick Fournillier dieses duftige Musiksoufflée von 1877 wie bissfestes Baiser: schaumig, schlürfig, mit knackig schnalzender Rhythmik und pikanter Melodiefüllung ... Und Stéphanie d'Oustrac, Hélène Guilmette, Christopher Mortagne und Jerome Vanier haben viel Komödienspass dabei. So lieben wir sie, die Opernfranzosen".