(Section C)
Led by Laurance Turner
Conducted by Joseph Lewis
Valentina Aksarova (soprano)
Offenbach, who was a satirist of the first order, carried in his head for two years the idea of producing an operetta which should introduce the revered gods and goddesses of paganism into an atmosphere of sheer buffoonery. The libretto of Orpheus in the Underworld was duly written to Offenbach's complete satisfaction. The press at first professed to be horrified at what they felt to be sacrilege, but for once the public, intensely amused, could not be bothered with the opinions of newspaper critics, and the operetta was soon a huge success. The music, indeed, is Offenbach at his best.