Music
Théâtre de l’Odéon, La Canebière, Marseille
Marseille Opera’s new production of Jacques Offenbach’s 1866 creation that defined Parisian gaïé and showed the operetta world the stage boots and suspenders of the dancing chorus line.
A traditional staging, though not even a box set. But quite enough to support the opera bouffe. Basically various back flats, each with three doors, such as Feydeau made infamous, plus a few seats and sofas.
Singing in the operetta style with movement in the style of a modern musical, including dances by the soloists. But costumes, wigs and hats fantastic. Parodies of nineteen-century military uniforms. Frick the bootmaker singing in a grotesque latex face mask with comic red hair and beard!
Read more: La vie parisienne - Jacques Offenbach - Marseille Opéra
The Bartók quartet was the heart of this programme; written a century ago, it sounds a technical challenge to perform with the wide variety of playing techniques encompassed. The youthful Isla String Quartet gave the Keswick Music Society audience a bright, lively and precise interpretation. Some lovely playing of the solo melodies, especially from the cello. My recent exposure at the festival in La Grave to the music of Olivier Messiaen was good preparation for Béla Bartók’s composition of half a century earlier! Much of this music seemed almost visual, the melodic figures and their counterparts evoking shapes and maybe colours. Then resolving with almost the inevitability of a Bach fugue. An interesting musical experience.
Quatuor pour la fin du Temp, Olivier Messiaen - Église de La Grave, Festival Messiaen 2026
An extraordinary concert, marked by the extreme commitment of both the musicians and the audience, resulting in an exceptional partnership for the performance. La Grave isn’t easy to get to so everyone had made effort to be at the concert.
I visited the Keswick Oxfam shop on my way to buy local bread and milk. Keswick’s charity shops have beguiled me on many occasions and have provided pretty things to gather dust as well as useful stuff. Sometimes called Keswick’s department stores, they are famous as places to browse, especially on a wet afternoon when it’s not worth hiking any more: the shop is dry and their stock is generally good quality and interesting. This time I got “caught” by new stock of classical CDs. Here are my thoughts on trawling through some other music collector’s trove.
Standing ovation for Patrick Geel’s dynamic performance of the Bach Toccata & Fugue in D minor BWV 565
AUDITIONS DU MARCHÉ 2025-2026
Grand Orgue de Notre-Dame du Mont, Marseille
Standing ovations for Patrick Geel at the end of his performance of JS Bach’s D minor Toccata and Fugue, then again after Widor’s well-known Toccata from his Fifth organ symphony, the final piece in his programme at the Grand Orgue de Notre-Dame du Mont, Marseille; the organ was built (1847-49) by Pierre-Alexandre Ducroquet.
Read more: Patrick Geel at the organ of Notre-Dame du Mont, Marseille
