ROME, Lazio, Italy – The Teatro dell’Opera di Roma is set to bring the comedic genius of Jacques Offenbach to the Teatro Nazionale for the first time, presenting two of his operettas under the title ‘Fabbrica Offenbach’. The new productions, ‘Un mari à la porte’ and ‘La Chatte métamorphosée en femme’, will be staged on January 22 and 23, featuring artists from the ‘Fabbrica – Young Artist Program’. This program, supported by Banca del Fucino since 2016, is dedicated to training singers, collaborative masters, directors, set designers, costume designers, and lighting designers.
Offenbach’s Return After Three Decades
This marks a significant return for Offenbach to a Rome Opera production, three decades after the ‘Jacques Offenbach and the Second Empire Festival’, which was hosted at the Teatro Brancaccio during the 1994-95 season under the direction of Peter Maag.
‘La Chatte métamorphosée en femme’: A Fable of Transformation
Composed in 1858, ‘La Chatte métamorphosée en femme’ (The Cat Transformed into a Woman) is based on a fable by La Fontaine, which in turn was inspired by Aesop’s ‘The Aphrodite Cat’. The operetta tells the story of the young Guido, who is in love with his cat, Minette. Through a magical spell, Minette is transformed into a flesh-and-blood girl, leading to a series of comical situations. Offenbach masterfully blends the fairy-tale element with a taste for paradox, creating one of his most successful examples of ‘fantastic operetta’.
‘Un mari à la porte’: A Night of Misunderstandings
Written in 1859, ‘Un mari à la porte’ (A Husband at the Door) is a brilliant one-act operetta characterized by its fast-paced rhythm. The plot revolves around Florestan, a composer fleeing from creditors, who unexpectedly finds himself in the room of young Suzanne on her wedding night. His sudden appearance triggers a chain of misunderstandings, awkward attempts to hide, and plot twists involving the bride, her friend Rosita, and the jealous husband. Offenbach skillfully utilizes the dynamics of vaudeville, alternating witty arias, lively duets, and moments of irresistible comedy.
The Creative Team Behind the Productions
The musical version for two pianos is curated by Giorgio Gori and performed by collaborative masters Elettra Aurora Pomponio and Maki Hamada. The direction is by Kamila Straszynska, who trained at the ‘Aleksander Zelwerowicz’ Academy in Warsaw, the DAMS in Bologna, and the ‘Silvio d’Amico’ Academy in Rome.
This double bill promises an evening of lighthearted entertainment and a chance to rediscover the charm and wit of one of operetta’s most celebrated composers.
Source: https://www.ansa.it/lazio/notizie/2026/01/21/opera-di-roma-al-teatro-nazionale-la-comicita-di-offenbach_f04140ab-799f-4e7e-9b74-6dda91377330.html
