Written in only 3 weeks in 1909, The Count of Luxembourg followed The Merry Widow (1905) and proved to be equally successful. The opera was performed in Edinburgh in 1912, but rarely since. It was last performed in Edinburgh in 1996 by the Southern Light Opera Company.
The production, with a company of 32 and an orchestra of 17 players, has a wealth of wonderful waltzes and many memorable melodies – all brought together by Director, Elspeth Williamson and Musical Director, Alison Rushworth.
Set in Paris around 1912, it tells the story of the Grand Duke Basil who wants to marry the famous opera singer Angèle Didier, but cannot because she has no title. To seek a solution, he arranges a marriage between Angèle and the penniless René, the Count of Luxembourg. The wedding ceremony is performed without them seeing each other and in exchange for half a million francs, René agrees to leave Paris and return to divorce Angèle 3 months later. Angèle will then have a title and the Grand Duke can marry her. Of course, Angèle and the Count fall in love and a happy ending is beautifully worked out - greatly enriched by Lehár’s romantic and lilting music.
The cast is as follows:
Angèle Didier - Fiona Main
Juliette - Susanne Horsburgh
Princess Kokozov - Anna Hainsworth
René, Count of Luxembourg - Mike Towers
Grand Duke Basil - George Ross
André Brissard - Neil French
Mentchikoff - Stuart Clelland
Pavlovitch - Roger Robertson
Pelegrin - Richard Bull
Saville - Graham Drew
Marchand - Ross Main
Opera Camerata, founded in 1983, is an Edinburgh company whose aim has always been to produce small-scale opera and operetta in the Church Hill Theatre.
Tickets
Opera Camerata will present Franz Lehár’s operetta, The Count of Luxembourg, at Edinburgh’s Church Hill Theatre from Wednesday, 8th to 11th October at 7.30pm. Tickets are all £12 each and are available from the Usher Hall Box Office www.usherhall.co.uk, or by calling 0131 228 1155, or 0131 228 2204.