- Christopher Columbus: Act I: Overture Offenbach, J. Buy Track 0:34
- Christopher Columbus: Act I: It's holiday time once again Offenbach, J. Buy Track 0:34
- Christopher Columbus: Act I: La, la, la. La, la, la, la. Ah! Offenbach, J. Buy Track 0:34
- Christopher Columbus: Act I: Don't forget Offenbach, J. Buy Track 0:34
- Christopher Columbus: Act I: I'm looking for a man Offenbach, J. Buy Track 0:34
- Christopher Columbus: Act I: Ah, how was I to know that I'd regret Offenbach, J. Buy Track 0:34
- Christopher Columbus: Act I: Daddy has a palace down in Old Siena Offenbach, J. Buy Track 0:34
- Christopher Columbus: Act I: Ich liebe meine mann Offenbach, J. Buy Track 0:34
- Christopher Columbus: Act I: A hundred years ago Offenbach, J. Buy Track 0:34
- Christopher Columbus: Act I: Now I know what it's like Offenbach, J. Buy Track 0:34
- Christopher Columbus: Act I: All you women, hang on a minute Offenbach, J. Buy Track 0:34
- Christopher Columbus: Act I: What have I done? Offenbach, J. Buy Track 0:34
- Christopher Columbus: Act II: It's such a bore to be in waiting Offenbach, J. Buy Track 0:34
- Christopher Columbus: Act II: Last night was one of those nights you remember Offenbach, J. Buy Track 0:34
- Christopher Columbus: Act II: If the've nothing to say Offenbach, J. Buy Track 0:34
- Christopher Columbus: Act II: I had prepared a flowery speech Offenbach, J. Buy Track 0:34
- Christopher Columbus: Act II: The search for love never ends Offenbach, J. Buy Track 0:34
- Christopher Columbus: Act II: At forty-two I was engaged Offenbach, J. Buy Track 0:34
- Christopher Columbus: Act II: A royal cousin kept sending roses by the dozen Offenbach, J. Buy Track 0:34
- Christopher Columbus: Act II: We wonder what's been going on Offenbach, J. Buy Track 0:34
- Christopher Columbus: Act III: Gentle breezes, billowing sails Offenbach, J. Buy Track 0:34
- Christopher Columbus: Act III: Has anyone seen Columbus? Offenbach, J. Buy Track 0:34
- Christopher Columbus: Act III: Lovely night, such a lovely night Offenbach, J. Buy Track 0:34
- Christopher Columbus: Act III: The Storm Offenbach, J. Buy Track 0:34
- Christopher Columbus: Act III: Goodness me, what a night Offenbach, J. Buy Track 0:34
- Christopher Columbus: Act III: Ah, forever at sea Offenbach, J. Buy Track 0:34
- Christopher Columbus: Act III: Revenge is sweet, but incomplete Offenbach, J. Buy Track 0:34
- Christopher Columbus: Act III: Nevermore will we roam, we're heading for home! Offenbach, J. Buy Track 0:34
- Christopher Columbus: Act IV: Entr'acte Offenbach, J. Buy Track 0:34
- Christopher Columbus: Act IV: If this is the Indies what I want to know Offenbach, J. Buy Track 0:34
- Christopher Columbus: Act IV: I don't want to go back Offenbach, J. Buy Track 0:34
- Christopher Columbus: Act IV: This morning I went for a stroll into the woodland Offenbach, J. Buy Track 0:34
- Christopher Columbus: Act IV: Do you mean what you say Offenbach, J. Buy Track 0:34
- Christopher Columbus: Act IV: Finale: Land fair and free Offenbach, J. Buy Track 0:34
Offenbach: Christopher Columbus
£38.99
2 disc set
Single Track Download
A joyful and infectious pastiche that marries some of Offenbach’s best music with Don White’s witty and irreverent English version of the discovery of America.
Description
A joyful and infectious pastiche that marries some of Offenbach’s best music with Opera Rara’s co-founder Don White’s witty and irreverent original English text about the discovery of America. Put together by Opera Rara for the 1976 American bicentenary celebrations, this recording weaves together music from lesser-known Offenbach operettas – some 36 excerpts from 22 different Offenbach works in fact – and tells the story of Christopher Columbus asking Queen Isabella of Spain for funding for his journey to America.
Click here to visit the Official Opera Rara YouTube page and hear a track from this recording
‘A complete delight’ – Peter Davis, New York Times
Cast
Maurice Arthur (Christopher Columbus), Joy Roberts (Beatriz), Johanna Peters (Rosa Columbus), Lissa Gray (Fleurette Columbus), Marilyn Hill Smith (Gretel Columbus), Christian du Plessis (Luis de Torres), Alan Opie (Chief of Police), Anna Dawson (Queen Isabella), Alec Bregonzi (King Ferdinand), Clive Harré (tourist), John Duxbury (waiter), Rosemary Ashe (Princess Minnehaha Columbus), Geoffrey Mitchell Choir, London Mozart Players, Alun Frances – conductor.
Tracklist
01 Christopher Columbus: Act I: Overture
02 Christopher Columbus: Act I: It’s holiday time once again
03 Christopher Columbus: Act I: La, la, la. La, la, la, la. Ah!
04 Christopher Columbus: Act I: Don’t forget
05 Christopher Columbus: Act I: I’m looking for a man
06 Christopher Columbus: Act I: Ah, how was I to know that I’d regret
07 Christopher Columbus: Act I: Daddy has a palace down in Old Siena
08 Christopher Columbus: Act I: Ich liebe meine mann
09 Christopher Columbus: Act I: A hundred years ago
10 Christopher Columbus: Act I: Now I know what it’s like
11 Christopher Columbus: Act I: All you women, hang on a minute
12 Christopher Columbus: Act I: What have I done?
13 Christopher Columbus: Act II: It’s such a bore to be in waiting
14 Christopher Columbus: Act II: Last night was one of those nights you remember
15 Christopher Columbus: Act II: If the’ve nothing to say
16 Christopher Columbus: Act II: I had prepared a flowery speech
17 Christopher Columbus: Act II: The search for love never ends
18 Christopher Columbus: Act II: At forty-two I was engaged
19 Christopher Columbus: Act II: A royal cousin kept sending roses by the dozen
20 Christopher Columbus: Act II: We wonder what’s been going on
21 Christopher Columbus: Act III: Gentle breezes, billowing sails
22 Christopher Columbus: Act III: Has anyone seen Columbus?
23 Christopher Columbus: Act III: Lovely night, such a lovely night
24 Christopher Columbus: Act III: The Storm
25 Christopher Columbus: Act III: Goodness me, what a night
26 Christopher Columbus: Act III: Ah, forever at sea
27 Christopher Columbus: Act III: Revenge is sweet, but incomplete
28 Christopher Columbus: Act III: Nevermore will we roam, we’re heading for home!
29 Christopher Columbus: Act IV: Entr’acte
30 Christopher Columbus: Act IV: If this is the Indies what I want to know
31 Christopher Columbus: Act IV: I don’t want to go back
32 Christopher Columbus: Act IV: This morning I went for a stroll into the woodland
33 Christopher Columbus: Act IV: Do you mean what you say
34 Christopher Columbus: Act IV: Finale: Land fair and free
Press Reviews
With singers and singing actors of the quality of Marilyn Hill Smith, Johanna Peters, Anna Dawson and Alec Bregonzi supporting Maurice Arthur, it would be difficult to imagine the piece performed with greater skill or relish. If you want a CD set for sheer uninhibited enjoyment, this should be it.
Gramophone, April 1993
This is a thoroughly splendid recording of the patchily superb Offenbach operetta that never was.
Opera Australia January 1982
Best of all, it allows us to hear 32 musical examples of obscure Offenbachiana, most of it as tuneful, charming and effervescent as any of the master’s better known creations. The large cast of Opera Rara regulars romps through the piece with high spirits, relishing every delicious note.
The New York Times April 1978
Christopher Columbus is one of the most delightful things I’ve heard in months, and easily one of the best pastiche operettas I’ve ever encountered, Offenbach or otherwise.
American Record Guide August 1978
The best Offenbach opera Offenbach never wrote.
The Daily Mail