Martha by Flotow, Alates (2023/2023), Juhatatud Katharina Thoma,, Dirigent Victorien Vanoosten, Opernhaus, Frankfurt am Main, Germany

»Martha, Martha, you disappeared…« Up until a few years ago, this aria was still ringing in many people's ears. In the meantime, performances of the once successful piece have become rare. This light opera in Katharina Thoma's staging proves to be very lively. Opera can be so entertaining - and at the same time bring us closer to the needs of the characters. Marthais both: funny and romantic. It's about today's issues; the work is subtitled "The Richmond Market," and this is nothing but a marriage market. Even if the search for a partner now mostly takes place on the Internet: Not that much has changed. The love story between Lady Harriet Durham, maid of honor of the Queen, and the farmer Lyonel unfolds with a lot of humor and great emotions. They meet when the Lady, on a whim, offers herself as a maid with her confidante Nancy at the market. And they grow closer when Lyonel and his stepbrother Plumkett take the two supposed maids "Martha" and "Julia" to their farm. Flotow's music hugs the scenes and combines French elegance with Italian flair.