[Meyerbeer Smith]

Offenbach - Les Brigands

Offenbach - La Grande Duchesse du Gerolstein

That's a brilliant production of Les Brigands!

 

[Meyerbeer Smith]

I love Offenbach's music!

There's a line from Offenbach to Monty Python and Asterix. Which other composer would give you a heroine singing a waltz while being cooked by cannibals?

Or the hero pursued by Public Opinion?

Or a love duet in which one of the parties is Zeus disguised as a blowfly?

Or a trio sung in pidgin Italian (one of the funniest moments in music)?

Or the Ronde des Chemins de fer? (Can't find a version online!)

(more below!)

 

[Meyerbeer Smith]

(more above!)

His music is witty and inventive. Listen to the syllabic "Maris ré" ensemble from La Périchole:

And these are delightful:

(more below!)

 

[Meyerbeer Smith]

(more above!)
Offenbach's music can also be ravishingly beautiful. The Barcarolle from Hoffmann is justly famous, but "Des cendres de ton cœur" is one of the few moments in opera that makes me cry.

Also worthy of the Mozart of the Champs-Elysées:

And, even though it's not authentic Offenbach:
[video]

[/video]