Fantasio, Garsington Opera

The German-French composer Jaccques Offenbach, of Can Can fame, is known for his catchy, upbeat melodies, but he also had a satirical side, poking fun at the establishment. Expect to hear lots of Offenbach in 2019, which marks the bicentenary of his birth.

Garsington Opera does its bit with the UK stage premiere of one of his 100 or so operas, of which relatively few are now known. Fantastio is a poignant opera with elements of high comedy, here staged in a specially commissioned new English translation by Jeremy Sams.

As the opera opens the prince of Mantua and the princess of Bavaria are to marry. But she is grieving the death of a friend. Perhaps the mysterious stranger can lift the gloom – he is Fantasio, a melancholy, moon-struck dreamer.

Jennifer France sings Prince Elsbeth in Offenbach's tender Fantasio

Mezzo-soprano Hanna Hipp sings this title role – a 'trouser' role – returning to Garsington after her eye-catching appearance in 2018 in the spellbindingly beautiful Strauss Capriccio. London audiences last saw her over Christmas as Hansel in Hansel and Gretel.

Soprano Jennifer France (Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro, 2017) sings Princess Elsbeth. Huw Montague Rendall is the Prince of Mantua.

Martin Duncan, who made such a success of Il Turco in Italia in 2017, directs, with conductor Justin Doyle making his Garsington debut.

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Fantasio is sung in English with English surtitles. General booking opens at 10AM, Tues 19 March. Performances are on 14, 16, 22 and 27 June; 5, 8, 11, 17 and 20 July. A Pre-performance Talk is given at 4:30PM on Sunday 16 June