The Hallé brings Offenbach’s joyous satire Barkouf to The Bridgewater Hall

A dog becomes governor, corruption runs rampant and political absurdity abounds at The Bridgewater Hall this October, as the Hallé and Opera Rara join forces with the English National Opera Chorus to present a rare concert performance Offenbach’s riotous Barkouf.

Sung in French with English narration by Alistair McGowan, the three-act opera bouffe transports audiences into a fictional Lahore where an unlikely new leader is appointed to govern the city. When the titular hound proves surprisingly popular with the people, the politicians around him find themselves scrambling to protect their positions, and a gleefully absurd satire of pomp, power and corruption begins to unfold.

First performed in 1860, Barkouf showcases the dazzling melodies and irreverent wit of Jacques Offenbach, the French composer behind the can-can, and its comic portrait of political machinations retains its biting insight today. As the dog wins over the public, flattery becomes an art form, schemes entangle and the establishment finds itself increasingly unsettled by its most unexpected challenger.

Promising a unique opportunity to encounter one of Offenbach’s most unusual works, Barkouf offers an exuberant afternoon of searing wit, sumptuous orchestration and operatic joy.