The New York Times
'Unlike so many ersatz works of this kind, Christopher Columbus is a genuinely funny piece of nonsense - fast-moving and witty, it must be very effective theater. Best of all it allows us to hear 32 musical examples of obscure Offenbachiana, most of it as tuneful, charming and effervescent as any of the master's better known creations.' |
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Gramophone
'You will look in vain for Christopher Columbus in lists of Offenbach's works. It was put together by Opera Rara for the 1976 American bicentenary celebrations...
But not without reason did the Daily Mail call it "the best Offenbach opera Offenbach never wrote". It is an absolutely hilarious piece... The lyrics are quite brilliant...'
American Record Guide
'... cast and orchestra perform Offenbach as if he were Mozart... |
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The Cast
CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS - Maurice Arthur
BEATRIZ - Joy Roberts
ROSA COLUMBUS
-
Johanna Peters
FLEURETTE COLUMBUS
- Lissa Gray
GRETEL COLUMBUS
-
Marilyn Hill Smith
LUIS DE TORRES
-
Christian du Plessis
THE CHIEF OF POLICE
-
Alan Opie
QUEEN ISABELLA
-
Anna Dawson
KING FERDINAND
-
Alec Bregonzi
A TOURIST - Clive Harre
A WAITER - John Duxbury
PRINCESS MINNEHAHA
COLUMBUS - Rosemary Ashe
The Geoffrey Mitchell Choir
London Philharmonic Orchestra
CONDUCTOR - David Parry |
