The Rose of Stambul

...A rose is a rose is a rose, but this “Rose” makes a sweet summer diversion! -John Von Rhein, Chicago Tribune read review

…Top five summer “classical pick” Time Out Magazine- July 14th Issue

…a 19-piece orchestra under the baton of John Frantzen brings out the whimsical yet elegant filigrees in the accompaniment. It’s all very gemütlich, and the libretto adds a blend of flirtatious romance and farcical silliness - Albert Williams, The Reader, July 21, 2011

3 and a half out of four stars! - Keith Ecker Chicago Theater Beat read review

sweet romance ready for picking… The anguish, the lust, the hate, the adoration … it’s all put out there to exhaustion. And at the Chopin, the closeness- makes the experience even more personal.  - Katy Walsh Chicago Now- read review

Directed by Kathryn Kamp, Conducted by John Frantzen, choreographed by August Tye, Lighting Design by Julian Pike, Set design by Joe Schermoly

Cast: Aaron Benham, Javier Bernardo, Sarah Bockel, Erich Buchholz, Michelle Buck, Eric Casady, Gerald Frantzen, Christopher Guerra, Desirée Hassler,  Nicole Hill, Alison Kelly,  Kimberly McCord, Robert Morrissey, Khaki Pixely, Malia Ropp, Julia Tarlo, Pam Williams

Orchestra:  Brian Beach, Michael Daniels, Katherine Nielsen, Benjamin Kulp, Timothy Hager, Matt Cataldi, Lilliana Wosko, Rachel Brown, Allison Gessner, Carl Schulte, Zsolt Szabo, Andy Frickle, Kristan Alfredson, Hersh Glagov, Elizabeth Johnson, Kelly King, Weldon Anderson, John Tuck, Bill Olsen, Anna Najoom, Jenny Jung

Chicago Folks Operetta presents the richly romantic operetta The Rose of Stambul, by Leo Fall.  Considered to be one of Fall’s most sumptuous scores, The Rose of Stambul was premiered at the Theater an der Wien, December 2, 1916, with the two operetta stars, Hubert Marischka and Betty Fischer in the principal roles.  The numerous musical highlights include the stirring waltz aria the “The Rose of Stambul” and the beguiling “Ein walzer muss es sein” (It must be a waltz).  The setting, magically evoked in Fall’s music, is a harem in Stambul (Instanbul) during the waning days of the Ottoman Empire.  Kemal Pasha has arranged an advantageous marriage for his daughter Kondja Gul.  Kondja, with her western education, has ideas of her own and has fallen in love with the mysterious novelist André Lery.  Will she go against her father’s will and find love on her own terms?

The show had its American premiere in 1922 at the Century  Theater in New York City. In keeping with the practices of the times, the production featured an altered story  by Harold Atteridge and interpolated a number of songs by Sigmund Romberg. This  hybrid show  enjoyed a successful run of 122 performances but was a far cry from the original.  Our new English translation, by Hersh Glagov and Gerald Frantzen,  is more faithful to the original German book and lyrics.  Featuring some of Chicago’s finest singers and a fifteen to twenty piece  chamber orchestra, it is a show that you will not want to miss.

History of Show *****Article on Leo Fall***** The Rose of Stambul on Video

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