The Austin Lyric Opera will celebrate the start of its 23rd season with the debut of Emmanuel Chabrier’s comic operetta “The Star.”  

“The Star,” the first complete operetta by Chabrier, was introduced to the public in 1877. Since then, it has been revived to capture the interests of today’s audiences and features a variety of musical talent.

Cast members include the renowned singer Jean-Paul Fouchécourt, who has performed at the Paris Opera and the Metropolitan Opera in New York. Austin singers Elizabeth Cass and Brian Joyce also join the cast.

The three-act operetta follows the character King Ouf I, played by Fouchécourt. Ouf is badgered by the fact that he has been unable to find a subject for a public execution, a tradition he holds during his birthday celebration.

Ouf is also frustrated that he has not yet fulfilled the royal decree’s order to produce an heir before his 40th birthday.

It is the mission of a neighboring kingdom to marry off the young princess Laoula to Ouf. Of course, Laoula is unaware of the scheme to make her Ouf’s bride, and she soon falls in love with a peddler.

The enraged King now sees the peddler as his new execution victim, until he is warned that his death will come soon after that of the peddler. Ouf then brings the peddler to his palace, where he showers the young man with luxuries.

The King keeps a watchful eye on the peddler, knowing that he will ultimately meet his doom if something happens to the young man.

The show will be sung in both French and English and will feature English supertitles projected above the stage. The production also features the characters in disguise as the story unfolds, which promises to make for an entertaining and comedic show.

“The Star” opens Jan. 30 at 7:30 p.m. at the Long Center for the Performing Arts. Ticket prices start at $20.