OPERETTA AND OPERA BOUFFE

The mid-19th century saw the birth of the operetta, a typically French phenomenon.

An operetta is characterized first of all by its one-act structure, its light character, mixing spoken dialogues, music and fashionable dances, such as cancan, waltzes, etc.

Several specialist theatres opened on this occasion: the Théâtre des Folies-Concertantes in 1854 and the Théâtre des Bouffes-Parisiens, opened in 1855 by Offenbach himself.

In the years that followed, the operetta became a larger spectacle with several acts and a more pronounced parodic style, mainly with Jacques Offenbach, who would call his works opéra-bouffes, to distinguish them from other, more superficial operettas.

In Austria, after a meeting with Offenbach, Johann Strauss II also launched into operetta, with Viennese waltzes as a backdrop.

Jacques Offenbach, 7th child of Isaac Offenbach, cantor of a synagogue, showed early gifts for the cello. 

In 1833 he joined Paris with his father and brother where he first earned his living as a cellist, then director of music at the Comédie Française. In 1855, he created the Théâtre des Bouffes-Parisiens.


After several one-act operettas, Offenbach inaugurated, with "Orpheus in the Underworld" in 1858, a series of more ambitious works in three acts which he called opéras bouffes .

In 1860, he obtained French nationality.


He then triumphed with “La Belle Hélène” in 1864, then “La vie parisienne” (1866), “La grande duchesse de Gerolstein” (1867).

His operas were so successful that, during the Universal Exhibition of 1867, they permanently filled three Parisian theatres.

After the success of "La Périchole" in 1868, victim of xenophobia after the war of 1870 (he was a Jew of German origin), Offenbach was preferred to Charles Lecocq who triumphed in 1872 with "La fille de madame Angot". But he then found success again with "Le roi Carotte", a magical comic opera.

In 1873, he was director of the Théâtre de la Gaîté, then toured the United States in 1876.

Success smiled on him again with his "patriotic" operas, very fashionable at the time, such as "Madame Favart" (1878) and "The Drum Major's Daughter" (1879).

Offenbach died on October 5, 1880 in Paris without having been able to complete his fantastic opera "The Tales of Hoffmann" which was a triumph at the Salle Favart in 1881.

Johann Strauss II (or son) was born in Vienna on October 25, 1825. He is the best known of the Strauss family, his father and brothers also being composers.

His father, Johann Strauss I (or father), was nicknamed the "father of the waltz". It was he who gave the Viennese waltz its letters of nobility. He is especially known for his "  Radetzky March  " which traditionally closes the New Year's concert  given each year in Vienna.

Johann Strauss Jr. was nicknamed the "waltz king".

He composed his first waltz at the age of 6, in 1831.

Later, against his father's wishes, he decided to pursue music. He would be his father's rival until his father's death.

In 1844 he formed an orchestra of 24 musicians.
In 1848 he was appointed head of the Vienna municipal music.
In 1849, after his father's death, he united the two orchestras, his own and his father's.
In 1860, he met Jacques Offenbach, and began composing operettas.
In 1863 he became director of court balls.
In 1874, he created "The Bat", the most performed operetta in the world, which was followed by "A Night in Venice", "The Gypsy Baron" and "Cagliostro".

At the end of 1898, he completed his last work, "  Cinderella  ", a ballet which he would never see premiere: he died in Vienna on June 3, 1899.

That same year, after his death, the operetta "Sang viennois" was created, based on the waltz of the same name and scores from his catalogue.

In addition to his operettas, Johann Strauss II is the author of hundreds of waltzes, some of which were transcribed for string quartet by the three composers of the Vienna School, Alban Berg, Arnold Schoenberg and Anton Webern.

-        Franz von Suppé (1819-1895) with “  Light Cavalry  ” (1866)

-        Florimond Hervé (1825-1892) with “  Mam'zelle Nitouche  ” (1883)

-        Charles Lecocq (1832-1918) with “  The daughter of Madame Angot  ”.

-        André Messager (1853-1929) with “  Véronique  ” (1898)

-        Franz Lehar (1870-1948) with “  The Merry Widow  ” (1905)