Libretto by Vladimir Konstantinov & Boris Ratser
(12 characters, 32 musicians & 24 chorus singers)
Staged by Yuri Alexandrov
Premiere: 14 June 2000

Offenbach's delightful operetta, its music "as playful, sparkling and effusive as champagne", marks a new trend in the repertoire of the St. Petersburg Chamber Opera. Staged by Yuri Alexandrov, the action in this production is imbued with a satirical, mischievous spirit, ridiculing all and everything, alongside the sensual, lyrical love story of Helene and Paris.