THE BBC THEATRE ORCHESTRA
Leader, MONTAGUE BREARLEY
Conducted by HYAM GREENBAUM
in A Programme of French Music
Of all the many gifted composers of Opéra comique who flourished in Paris during the nineteenth century Offenbach was undoubtedly the most brilliant. His success as a composer of Opéra comique, of which we have no exact equivalent in England, was probably unparalleled in the history of this form of entertainment.
Offenbach's industry was also astonishing, and the number of successful works which he produced in his busy life is well-nigh incredible. It was his ambition, however, to write at least one work on the Tales of Hoffmann when he died. It was completed by Guiraud, and produced in Paris in 1881. the year after its composer's death, and was given over a hundred times in that same year. It has ever since been in the repertory in Paris, and is regularly played in most countries o! Europe, even in our own.