Les oiseaux dans la charmille, Offenbach arr. Bert Van Thienen. Concert Band and Soprano Solo

Composer: Jacques Offenbach
Arranger: Bert Van Thienen
Instrumentation: Concert Band Orchestre dHarmonie - Blasorchester & vocals (soprano)
Grade: 3
Duration: 5'20''
Item number: BVT005

One of the most difficult coloratura arias in the entire operatic repertoire, Les oiseaux dans la charmille comes from Offenbachs 'Les contes dHoffmann'. The piece is also known as 'The Doll Song' since the character who performs it, Olympia, is a mechanical doll. In the opera, Hoffman recounts how he was charmed by the automaton, co-created by Spalanzani and Coppélius. Though anyone could plainly see that Olympia was a machine, Coppélius sold Hoffman a pair of magical glasses that tricked him into thinking Olympia was a real woman.