Alexandre Dumas père’s light-hearted tale of dubious paternity and political intrigue set in the Austrian Tyrol forms the basis for American composer Louis Karchin’s comic opera Romulus. Full of surprises and delights, well-rounded characters and a lively sense of theatricality, Romulus boasts memorable music. ‘While studying opera, I was intrigued by how effortlessly Strauss and Wagner could attain a seamless flow,’ notes Karchin, ‘and I tried to emulate this.’ The Washington Square Ensemble, praised for its ‘polished, lively performance’ (The New York Times) is joined by a cast of first-class singers conducted by the composer.