The Triad or 'Three in Accord'
Le toréador (1849) is a comic opera by Adolphe Adam, a French composer best known for the ballet Giselle. The story is of a ménage–a–trois between an erstwhile soprano, her oft–absent and unfaithful husband, and a previous lover, a flautist in the orchestra. The work features famous variations on the folk–song Ah! vous dirai–je, maman (better known as Twinkle, twinkle, little star in the English–speaking world). This semi–staged performance resets the story in contemporary Hong Kong.
The opera is sang in French, dialogue in English with English surtitles.
A "know-before-you-go" introduction to the comic opera
Nineteenth-century French composer Adolphe Adam (1803 -1856), best known for his ballet Giselle, was also a composer of opérascomiques, a forerunner of such masters of French operetta as Jacques Offenbach, and very well-known at the time. (Adam's Le chalet was apparently one of the very first operas performed at Macau's Teatro Dom Pedro V.)
On 6 June, this year's French May will include the Hong Kong (and likely China) premiere of Adam's Le toréador (1849), updated to a Hong Kong setting as The Triad. This work includes the famous recital piece of variations on Ah! vous dirai-je, maman (better known as the melody of Twinkle, twinkle, little star in the English-speaking world).
This associated session will provide an overview of Adam and his music and a "know before you go" introduction to Le toréador.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club Hall, Asia Society 
06.06.2024 (Thu) Reception 6 pm
Performance 7 pm
Standard $450 Asia Society members $350
