Captivating performance of Rousseau’s Stroke of Genius

(Rousseu-Oper: Fesselnde Aufführung eines Geniestreichs Rousseaus Operneinakter)

That’s how the lively theatre-evening started, in which the internationally renowned baroque ensemble Le Tendre Amour performed J.J Rousseau’s one-act opera “Le Devin du Village”. What followed was a display of musical and scenic fireworks. The singing was of the highest level and the ten musicians at the back of the stage performed with virtuosity. The historic performance practice had nothing dusty about it but was filled with bustling life.

It all worked because of the enormous stage presence of the artists who included the numerous public so naturally that some surprised ones found themselves on stage. Marvelous: Adrián Schvarzstein as an aimable and chaotic “factotum” and Thomas Höft as a concierge who was in fact bound and gagged for most of the time, forced to watch the captivating stage events. After being freed he was made to read a statement in which the artistic director of the Bad Kissinger Winterzauber, Jutta Dieing, committed to letting Le Tendre Amour perform in the Rossini hall forever – for twice the salary. This is indeed unrealistic – but Le Tendre Amour would certainly have deserved it!"

- Main Post, Frankfurt - January 2010