Dr Miracle tells the timeless story of Laurette, a girl in love with a boy that her overbearing father thinks unsuitable — only a doctor or lawyer will do — but, despite the attractions of a vain and flirty stepmother, love finds a way through various disguises, a possibly poisoned omelette, and a fake doctor with a miracle cure. When an opera’s main musical selection is about an omelette, it’s a sure sign that the work is a farce. Overshadowed by Bizet’s later masterpieces The Pearl Fishers and Carmen, Bizet’s first opera has never, to the best of our knowledge, been performed in China.
For this production, Dr Miracle has been reset as a “fairy-tale opera”. Modern-day Laurette travels to a French fairy-tale where all her dreams come true. It has a new world-premiere arrangement by Marco Iannelli that includes original music featuring resettings of familiar French children’s songs, and additional music by Bizet from his other operas “Don Procopio” and “Carmen”.
The new music includes resettings of such well-known songs as “Ah! vous dirai-je, maman” (better-known as “Twinkle, twinkle little star”), “Frère Jacques” and “Alouette” which add some fairy-tale sparkle.
The new production forms part of the cultural programme for the 60th anniversary of Sino-French relations.