Identity Crisis (1864-1875)
Offenbach faced identity challenges throughout his life: not just the matter of his nationality, before and during the Franco-Prussian War, but also his identity as a composer.
Jacques Offenbach’s life throws a light on the political turbulence and identity within 19th century Europe. He struggled to break into the musical establishment of Paris, but he didn’t struggle with creating a dazzling array of work for the theatre. His 98 stage works established and defined what operetta was, paving the way for modern musical theatre.
Today, Donald Macleod looks at Offenbach’s identity challenges throughout his life: not just the matter of his nationality, before and during the Franco-Prussian War, but also his identity as a composer.
La Vie parisienne: Overture
Lille National Orchestra
Darrell Ang, conductor
La belle Helene:
Act II: Entracte
Act II Scene 1: O reine, en ce jour il faut faire (Chorus, Helen, Bacchis)
Act II Scene 2: On me nomme Helene la blonde (Helen)
Felicity Lott, soprano (Helene)
Les Musiciens du Louvre
Marc Minkowski, conductor
Barbe-bleue:
Act I: Couplets de Boulotte: Y a p't-etr' des berger's dans l'village
Overture
Anne Sofie von Otter, mezzo-soprano (Boulotte)
Les Musiciens du Louvre
Marc Minkowski, conductor
La Grande-Duchesse de Gerolstein:
Act III Tableau 2: Au repas comme a la bataille (Chorus, All)
Act III Tableau 2: Legende du Verre: Il etait un de mes aieux (Duchesse, Paul, Boum, Nepomuc, Puck, Grog, Chorus)
Act III Tableau 2: Retour de Fritz: Voici revenir mon pauvre homme! (Wanda, Chorus)
Act III Tableau 2: Complainte de Fritz: Eh bien mon Altesse me voila! (Fritz, Duchesse, Puck, Boum, Chorus)
Act III Tableau 2: Vous n'avez pas d'autre explication a me donner? (Duchesse, Fritz, Boum, Puck, Paul, Grog)
Act III Tableau 2: Final: Enfin, jai repris le panache! (Boum, Puck, Paul, Grog, Wanda, Fritz, Duchesse, Chorus)
Felicity Lott, soprano (Duchesse)
Sandrine Piau, soprano (Wanda)
Yann Beuron, tenor (Fritz)
Franck Leguérinel, baritone (Le Baron Puck)
Eric Huchet, tenor (Le Prince Paul)
François Le Roux, baritone (Le Général Boum)
Les Musiciens du Louvre Chorus
Les Musiciens du Louvre
Marc Minkowski, conductor
La Haine, Act IV: Marche religieuse
Leipzig Symphony Orchestra
Nicolas Krüger, conductor
Produced by Iain Chamber for Â鶹ԼÅÄ Audio Wales & West
Last on
Music Played
-
![]()
Jacques Offenbach
La Vie Parisienne: Overture
Orchestra: Orchestre national de Lille. Conductor: Darrell Ang.- NAXOS : 8.-573694.
- NAXOS.
- 7.
-
![]()
Jacques Offenbach
La Belle Helene (excerpts)
Singer: Felicity Lott. Orchestra: Les Musiciens du Louvre. Conductor: Marc Minkowski. Singer: Michel Sénéchal. Singer: Laurent Naouri. Singer: Yann Beuron.- VIRGIN CLASSICS : 5 454-77-2.
- VIRGIN CLASSICS.
- 1.
-
![]()
Jacques Offenbach
Barbe-Bleue (excerpts)
Singer: Anne Sofie von Otter. Orchestra: Musiciens du Louvre Orchestra. Conductor: Marc Minkowski.- DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON : E4715012.
- DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON.
- 10.
-
![]()
Jacques Offenbach
La Grande-Duchesse de Gerolstein (excerpts)
Performer: Boris Grappe. Performer: Marilyne Fallot. Performer: Jennifer Tani. Singer: Felicity Lott. Singer: Sandrine Piau. Singer: Yann Beuron. Singer: Franck Laguerinel. Singer: Éric Huchet. Singer: François Le Roux. Singer: Alain Gabriel. Singer: Blandine Staskiewiecz. Singer: Aurélia Legay. Singer: Christophe Grapperon. Choir: Musiciens du Louvre Choir. Orchestra: Musiciens du Louvre Orchestra. Conductor: Marc Minkowski.- ERATO : 0724354573453.
- ERATO.
- 25.
-
![]()
Jacques Offenbach
La Haine, Act IV: Marche religieuse
Orchestra: Leipzig Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Nicolas Krüger.- GENUIN : GEN-20698.
- GENUIN.
- 10.
Broadcast
- Thu 25 Jan 2024 12:00Â鶹ԼÅÄ Radio 3
Beethoven Unleashed – the box set
The complete set of Radio 3 Beethoven Unleashed podcasts, with Donald Macleod.
What was really wrong with Beethoven?
Georgia Mann and neurosurgeon Henry Marsh examine the composer's numerous health problems
Composers A to Z
Visit the extensive audio archive of Radio 3 programmes about Composers and their works.
Who knew? Five eye-opening stories from Composer of the Week
The production team reflects on 5 of Donald Macleod’s best stories from the last 20 years
Five reasons why we love Parry's Jerusalem
What is the strange power of Jerusalem which makes strong men weep?
A man out of time – why Parry's music and ideas were at odds with his image...
The composer of Jerusalem was very far from the conservative figure his image suggests.
Composer Help Page
Find resources and contacts for composers from within the classical music industry.