Jacques Offenbach, composer of comic operas

He is probably best remembered for “Orpheus in the Underworld”

Jacques Offenbach was born on 20th June 1819 in Cologne, Germany. He was originally given the names Jacob Levy, and his family name had been changed by his father from Eberst because he had moved from the town of Offenbach am Main and thenceforward had been known by everyone as “Der Offenbacher”.

The Offenbach family was Jewish and Offenbach senior had moved to become cantor at the local synagogue, as well as giving violin lessons. Jacques joined the musical endeavours of the large family (he was the seventh child) and gave his first concert, as a cellist, when he was 12.

Jacques moved to Paris when he was accepted to study cello at the Conservatoire in November 1833. However, he did not distinguish himself and left after only one year, becoming a cellist in the orchestra of the Opéra-Comique.

While at the Opéra-Comique he formed a partnership with the young composer Friedrich Flotow, producing a series of pieces for cello and piano which they played in recitals.

He later wrote incidental music for performances at the Palais Royal, and a large number of songs, but he found that playing the cello was more remunerative. He made several concert tours and played before Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in London in 1844.

When he felt that he had made enough money from performing he returned to Paris and devoted…