Jacques Offenbach (/ˈɒfənbɑːx/, also US: /ˈɔːf-/, French: [ʒak ɔfɛnbak], German: [ˈʔɔfn̩bax]; 20 June 1819 – 5 October 1880) was a German-born French composer, cellist and impresario of the Romantic period. He is remembered for his nearly 100 operettas of the 1850s to the 1870s, and his uncompleted opera The Tales of Hoffmann. He was a powerful influence on later composers of the operetta genre, particularly Johann Strauss Jr. and Arthur Sullivan. His best-known works were continually revived during the 20th century, and many of his operettas continue to be staged in the 21st. The Tales of Hoffmann remains part of the standard opera repertory.
Born in Cologne, the son of a synagogue cantor, Offenbach showed early musical talent. At the age of 14, he was accepted as a student at the Paris Conservatoire but found academic study unfulfilling and left after a year. From 1835 to 1855 he earned his living as a cellist, achieving international fame, and as a conductor. His ambition, however, was to compose comic pieces for the musical theatre. Finding the management of Paris' Opéra-Comique company uninterested in staging his works,
Despite many great successes during the rest of Offenbach's career, Orphée aux enfers remained his most popular. Gammond lists among the reasons for its success, "the sweeping waltzes" reminiscent of Vienna but with a new French flavour, the patter songs, and "above all else, of course, the can-can which had led a naughty life in low places since the 1830s or thereabouts and now became a polite fashion, as uninhibited as ever.
DJI Stephen Posted at 5-18 00:20
Hello there Droffarc. Good day and thank you for posting this stunning aerial video that you have filmed. Nice flying and have a nice day. .
Blériot53 Posted at 5-18 06:37
Lovely. And a childhood memory evoked. Offenbach's Orpheus in the Underworld was a piano piece I had to learn when I was about 13. Gave up at 15
I dont blame you - 15 is way too young to be thinking about undies that belonged to some orphulus people
DAFlys Posted at 5-18 23:06
Well spotted Draffarc. Can you get to the beach under that when the tide is out?
I guess. With ropes / alternatively with a parachute, but then you would have to swim for it - with those sharky little guys
Besides, there are much better beaches at hand, with soft white sand.
Droffarc Posted at 5-19 02:29
I guess. With ropes / alternatively with a parachute, but then you would have to swim for it - with those sharky little guys
Besides, there are much better beaches at hand, with soft white sand.
Nothing beats a shower under a waterfall, as long as the rocks are stable.