Jacques Offenbach, born on June 20, 1819, had a pretty unique career. Some might consider him a renaissance man since he was a composer, cellist, and impresario. He was also a first-class jokester, whose pranks got him into a lot of trouble, but also defined his dramatic style.<\/p>\n
He was born in Cologne and learned music from a young age. He eventually went to Paris to study with Cherubini at the Paris Conservatoire. However, he never took to the conservatory life and left after a year. He then went on to take jobs as a cellist, though his consistent pranks made him a controversial figure. Ultimately, he turned into a cello virtuoso and started composing.<\/p>\n
His first full-length operetta, \u201cOrph\u00e9e aux enfers\u201d premiered in 1858 and his career skyrocketed. In sum, he composed 98 operettas between 1847 and 1881. His last one was \u201cMam\u2019zelle Moucheron.\u201d As far as opera goes, he only composed two \u2013 \u201cDie Rheinnixen\u201d and \u201cLes Contes d\u2019Hoffmann.\u201d<\/p>\n
He also composed a series of songs, as well as a number of pieces for the cello.<\/p>\n
He died in 1880.<\/p>\n
Major Works<\/strong><\/p>\n There is really no contest here. While Offenbach created a wide range of works in the operetta genre, \u201cLes Contes d\u2019Hoffmann\u201d remains his undisputed masterpiece. While incomplete, the work has been a touchstone of the repertoire since its inception and is a major draw for star tenors around the world.<\/p>\n The opera is filled with some of the artform’s most renowned melodies, including the Barcarolle that has become a pop-culture fixture.<\/p>\n Read More on Offenbach<\/strong><\/p>\n