Ambroise Thomas's 1868 operatic telling of HAMLET premiered on March 9, 1868 at the Paris Opera. With its 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. At the time of Thomas’s death in 1896, "Hamlet" had been performed 276 times at the Opéra, had its London premiere in 1869 (with a conclusion more closely resembling the original) and in the dec

Ambroise Thomas (1811–1896) contributed to various genres of music, but is chiefly known as a composer of opera. With its virtuosic arias, stunning ensembles and vivid orchestration, ‘Hamlet’ was one of the most successful operas in the French repertoire. This is further enhanced by director Cyril Teste’s multi-layered production, reinstating its powerful original ending. This Opéra Comique Paris production won Best Complete Recording from the International Opera Awards, and a Diapason d’Or de l