The Chinese premiere of Jacques Offenbach’s “Pomme d’Api” opened on 30 June 2023 to a sold-out performance at the Guangzhou Opera House as part of the French Croisements Festival. Set locally in Guangzhou as the story of a small opera company putting on a production of Offenbach’s one-act operetta, this production was extended and adapted from the OperaLab’s French May production in Hong Kong in 2022, and included a world premiere score for chamber ensemble by Marco Iannelli, the addition of six additional selections from two other Offenbach operettas, “La Périchole” and “Pépito” and new Chinese dialogue.
The performance featured soprano Wang Xiaoqing as Catherine (Pomme d’Api), baritone Zhai Xiaohan as Rabastens and tenor Lu Yafei as Gustave. Zheng Honghao conducted and with Chen Yiyan as the pianist.