Offenbach’s revived Barkouf charms despite uneven music and libretto
Opera Rara has revived Jacques Offenbach’s largely forgotten 1860 operetta *Barkouf*, in which a dog becomes Sultan of Lahore and a flower seller interprets his commands to promote reform. The Manchester performance showed the work’s lively, unconventional character, though its uneven score and less effective libretto fall short of Offenbach’s best-known operettas.
Paul Daniel conducted the Hallé and English National Opera Chorus, with a French-speaking cast led by Anne-Catherine Gillet as Maïma and Valerie Eickhoff as Balkis. Mathias Vidal’s Saëb had several standout songs, while Alistair McGowan’s rhyming narration helped connect the story; the review notes some audibility problems.
- Opera Rara has brought Offenbach’s lost operetta back to the stage.
- Its score sparkles in places but is uneven overall.
- A strong cast and McGowan’s narration enliven the Manchester performance.
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Jacques Offenbach's Barkouf is an 1860 operetta that has been largely forgotten and rarely performed until now. The story centres on an unusual premise: a dog unexpectedly becomes Sultan of Lahore, and with the aid of a flower seller who interprets his commands, he introduces reforms to the kingdom.
Opera Rara has staged a revival of the work at a recent Manchester performance, with conductor Paul Daniel leading the Hallé and English National Opera Chorus. The cast includes French-speaking singers such as Anne-Catherine Gillet and Valerie Eickhoff, whilst Alistair McGowan provided spoken narration to help audiences follow the story.
Offenbach is chiefly remembered for his most polished operettas, but Barkouf represents a different phase of his work. The revival offers a rare opportunity to experience this neglected corner of the composer's output and understand the full scope of his career.
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Originally published by The Guardian as “Barkouf review – Offenbach’s lost operetta is a quirky shaggy dog story”.