Lost gem revived after 140 years - New Sussex Opera

Spokeswoman Ruth Loughton said: “Full of toe-tapping tunes and with a hilarious new translation specially commissioned by New Sussex Opera, Belle Lurette is a little-known gem, written at the very end of the composer’s life in 1880. Amazingly it hasn’t been performed in this country for nearly 140 years. We think it’s well worth it. Belle Lurette follows two recent Offenbach productions by New Sussex Opera which both received fantastic reviews in the press. The New Sussex Opera chorus is joined by top professional opera singers and with an orchestra conducted by Toby Purser while David Foster directs. It is fully staged and in costume. It will be touring three venues in Sussex with a final performance in London. Our principals include Paul Featherstone, Robin Bailey, Michael Ferguson, Giles Davies, Kristin Finnigan, Georgina Stalbow, Cameron Mitchell, Tristan Stocks and Rebecca Hughes.”

Belle Lurette has not been staged in the UK for 140 years. Amazingly, Offenbach wrote it at the same time as he was writing The Tales of Hoffmann, as he was dying. The orchestration was completed by Delibes and it had its first performance a month after he died.

Kevin Clarke, of the Operetta Research Centre, said: “The music is magnificent. In every way. For someone who wrote this score on his death bed the sparkle and tunefulness of every number is remarkable. And I mean really remarkable.

"The chorus of the laundresses is one big splash and sonic foam party. The ensembles are built with masterful care. And Lurette’s big solos have a bounce that will knock you flat”.Performances are: November 10 at 7.30pm : Lewes Town Hall £35, £32, £29; November 20 (two performances) at 3pm and 7.30pm Old Market, Hove £37, £31; November 25, Eastbourne, Devonshire Park Theatre at 7pm £38, £33, £28; December 6, Bloomsbury Theatre, London at 7.30 £55, £44, £33, £28.

Bookings at www.newsussexopera.org.