Composer of the Week: Offenbach

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Composer of the Week

Music: Classical

An informative guide to composers' lives and their music.

An informative and accessible guide to composers' lives and their music.

Composer of the Week: Jacques Offenbach (1819-1880): Immorality in America (1876-1880)

Immorality in America (1876-1880)

Jacques Offenbach (1819-1880)

BBC Radio 3 - Composer of the Week, Jacques Offenbach (1819-1880), Immorality in America (1876-1880)

Offenbach’s later years, starting with his tour of America in 1875.

Offenbach’s later years, starting with his tour of America in 1875, were marked by ill health. He faced a battle to complete his late swansong, The Tales of Hoffman.

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 later years, which were marked by ill health. 
We begin with his tour of America in 1875, before Offenbach faced his final battle…. to complete his late swansong, The Tales of Hoffman.

Les contes d'Hoffmann (The Tales of Hoffmann)
Prologue: Introduction: Glou, Glou, Glou (Chorus)			
Paris Conservatoire Orchestra
Rene Duclos Choir
André Cluytens, conductor

American Eagle Waltz						
Philip Collins, trumpet
Cincinnati Pops Orchestra
Erich Kunzel, conductor

Le voyage dans la lune:
I. Introduction 
II. Les Hirondelles Bleues
III. Le Bonhomme de Neige
IV. Les Flocons Animes
V. Polka
VI. Mazurka
VII. Variations
VIII. Galop
Philharmonia Orchestra
Antonio de Almeida, conductor

Madame Favart: Overture							
Frankfurt Brandenburg State Orchestra
Howard Griffiths, conductor

Les contes d'Hoffmann (The Tales of Hoffmann): 		
Act III: Cher ange! (Dapertutto, Giulietta)
Act III: Aujourd'hui, cependant, affermis mon courage (Giulietta, Hoffmann)
Act III: Schlemil! … J'en etais sur! (Giulietta, Schlemil, Hoffmann, Pittichinaccio, Dapertutto, Nicklausse) 
Act III: Helas! mon coeur s'egare encore! (Septuor) 
Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, 
Nicolai Gedda, 
Ernest Blanc, 
Jean-Christophe Benoit, 
Jacques Loreau, 
Jean-Pierre Laffage, 
Paris Conservatoire Orchestra
André Cluytens, conductor

Ouverture a grand orchestra 	
Cologne West German Radio Orchestra
Jan Stulen, conductor

Produced by Iain Chambers for BBC Audio Wales & West

Composer of the Week: Jacques Offenbach (1819-1880)

Live music and the arts: broadcasts more live music than any other radio network. Classical music is its core. Genres include world and new music, jazz, speech and drama.

Donald Macleod looks at some of Offenbach's many works for the stage.

Donald Macleod looks at some of Offenbach's many works for the stage, which defined operetta and paved the way for modern musical theatre.

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