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With Shakespearian operas all the rage in Paris during the 19th century, Ambroise Thomas and his librettists Michel Carre and Jules Barbier adapted Hamlet to create a romantic spectacle in which the character of Ophelie shines with a haunting radiance. With it's virtuosic arias, stunning ensembles and vivid orchestration - with the colourful addition of the newly invented saxophone - Thomas composed one of the most successful operas in the French repertoire. This is further enhanced by director Cyril Teste's multi-layered production, reinstating it's powerful original ending, and including cinematic techniques to create 'a very palpable hit' (bachtrack. Com).
