For the gala opening of its spring season, on March 18 at the David H. Koch Theater, the New York City Opera (NYCO) lavished attention on a revival of Mark Lamos' 2002 production of Emmanuel Charbrier's frothy opéra-comique "L'Étoile" (The Star, 1877), in which the fates of buffo King Ouf I and his astrologer, Siroco, appear to be inextricably linked, by the stars, to that of Lazuli, an impoverished perfume vendor. Conductor Emmanuel Plasson guided a high-level cast with verve and made the operetta, rich in grand bel canto opera parody, pass in a twinkling.

Mezzo-soprano Julie Boulianne (debut), well remembered from performances at Juilliard and Manhattan School of Music (MSM) and, here, taking the trouser role Lazuli, reveled in a lyrical ode to 'his' lucky star and lilting airs about charming women with the perfumes he purveys; the miraculous change in his fortunes, from poverty-stricken and condemned to death, to honored guest of a king that thinks if Lazuli dies, he dies; the scant problem a husband poses when one's lady love is married; and his underwater adventure, when he escaped death in the lake. As the ridiculous Ouf-at one point, he makes a play on the words "ouf," an exclamation of relief, and "oeuf," meaning egg-wonderful Jean-Paul Fouchécourt-of Les Arts Florissants and Metropolitan Opera fame, as well as travesti star of NYCO's "Platée," of Jean-Philippe Rameau-skulked about his kingdom in disguise, much as Peruvian Viceroy Don Andrès does, in Jacques Offenbach's "La Périchole" (1868), trying to get his people, who recognize him immediately and wave tiny tricolores in his honor, to speak ill of his government-and only a disgruntled Lazuli will, winning him temporary imprisonment and death sentence. Ouf and Siroco-François Loup, also of the Met, in his NYCO debut-played major parts in the big second act concerted number, reacting melodramatically to a gunshot and fearing for Lazuli's life and their own. Fouchécourt and Loup also joined forces for a bel canto-style duet in praise of "Chartreuse verte" (green Chartreuse), the drink that can momentarily divert them from dwelling on their anticipated imminent deaths.

Also making a major contribution to that act finale was Jennifer Zetlan-recalled for her striking Emily Webb in the local premiere of Ned Rorem and J.D. McClatchy's "Our Town," after Thornton Wilder, at Juilliard-as Princess Laoula, Ouf's fiancée, but Lazuli's love, gracefully singing an elegiac, Gaetano Donizetti-style air, mourning the beloved she thinks has perished. The chorus responded with condolences that might have come from "Lucia di Lammermoor," were they sincere, before launching into a spirited stretta, lamenting, too bad for Lazuli, but rejoicing, happily, not for us.

Accompanying Laoula from the neighboring realm of Mataquin, and also incognito-as scent sellers, scooting in on scooters equipped with tables and umbrellas-were William Ferguson, repeating the role of pompous Ambassador Hérisson de Porc-Épic (porcupine), which he sang in the October 22, 2002 NYCO premiere; Liza Forrester (debut), as his wife Aloès, who blithely advised Laoula, first, to tickle Lazuli to arouse him and then, not to mourn him for long; and Andrew Drost as Tapioca, Porc-Épic's secretary and Aloès' love-they, too, didn't consider a husband much of an obstacle.

Catch "L'Étoile" on March 20 or 26 or April 1 at 8 p.m., or March 28 or April 3 at 1:30 p.m. For tickets, from $25 to110, order on line from www.nycopera.com, call Ticketmaster at 212/307-4100, or come to the box office at Lincoln Center.

The season continues with Giacomo Puccini's "Madama Butterfly" on March 19, 25, 27, and April 2 at 8 p.m. and March 21 and April 4 at 1:30 p.m., with Shu-Ying Li, Steven Harrison, Nina Yoshida (debut), and Quinn Kelsey (debut), and on April 10 and 18 at 1:30 p.m. and 16 at 8 p.m., with Yunah Lee, Konstantin Stepanov (debut), outstanding mezzo-soprano Krysty Swann (debut), who studied with Mignon Dunn at MSM, and Nicholas Pallesen (debut), under the batons of George Manahan or Steven Mosteller, and George Frideric Handel's "Partenope," on April 3, 9 and 15 at 8 p.m., 11 and 17 at 1:30 p.m., and 13 at 7:30 p.m., starring coloratura soprano Cyndia Sieden, with Stephanie Houtzeel (debut), countertenors Iestyn Davies and Anthony Roth Costanzo (debut), Nicholas Coppolo, and Daniel Mobbs, under Christian Curnyn's baton (debut).

Next season opens with the local premiere of Leonard Bernstein's "A Quiet Place," conducted by Jayce Ogren (debut) and directed by Christopher Alden, with Sara Jakubiak (debut) as Dede, who is married to François (Dominic Armstrong, debut), once lover of her brother Junior (Joshua Hopkins, debut); and Patricia Risley (debut) as Dinah; Louis Otey as Sam; and Christopher Feigum (debut) as Young Sam, on October 27, with repetitions on October 30 and November 4, 6, 12, 14, 16 and 21. George Manahan conducts a program of monodramas, John Zorn's "La Machine de l'être" (world premiere), Arnold Schoenberg's "Erwartung" (NYCO premiere), and Morton Feldman and Samuel Beckett's "Neither" (first U.S. staging with orchestra), directed by Robin Guarino (debut), with Cyndia Sieden and Kara Shay Thomson (debut), on March 25, 27 29 and 31, and April 2 and 8, 2011. Lauren Flanigan and Kim Josephson (debut) star in the New York premiere of Stephen Schwartz's "Séance on a Wet Afternoon," conducted by Manahan and directed by Scott Schwartz, on April 19, 20, 22, 23, 24, 26, 28, 29 and 30 and May 1.

There will be revivals of Richard Strauss' "Intermezzo," with Mary Dunleavy, Pallesen, and Andrew Bidlack (debut), under Manahan, on October 31 and November 5, 9, 13, 18 and 20, and Gaetano Donizetti's "L'Elisir d'Amore," with Stefania Dovhan, David Lomeli (debut), Marco Nisticò, and conductor Brad Cohen (debut), on March 22, 24 and 26, and April 1, 3, 5, and 9, 2011.

There will also be a gala concert, with soprano Christine Brewer and Maestro Manahan, featuring arias from "Tristan und Isolde" and "Turandot," and Strauss lieder, on October 28; concerts of Bernstein's music on November 6 and 7; music of Zorn, Laurie Anderson, Lou Reed, Mike Patton, Marc Ribot, Dave Douglas and Uri Caine on March 30, 2011; Oliver Knussen and Maurice Sendak's "Where the Wild Things Are" in concert, under Julian Kuerti (debut), on April 9; and a concert of Schwartz's music, with Kristin Chenoweth and Raúl Esparza, on April 21.