OFFENBACH, JACQUES A French operetta composer, born at Cologne, of Jewish parentage. He went to France in 1833, and studied the 'cello at the Paris Conservatory under Vaslin. Afterwards he played that instrument in the orchestra of the Opi•ra Combine and then be came music director at the Thaitre Francais. While at the latter theatre lie wrote the Chansori de l'orlanio for the Chandeiier of 7.Nlusset. ITe became director of the Bontres-Parisiens in 1855 and produced his operas there until 1866, after which date they were brought out at different houses. In 1876 lie made en unprofitable tour in America, which lie described in Voles (run atusieien cn voyage (1877). The libretto is an indispensable part of Offenbach's operettas. In the witty words and doubtful, if amusing, situa tions of Meilhae and lay the opportuni ties for his own best humor and most ironical carieatnre. For the rest his merry music, natural verve and extravagance, and tIn' affluence of his ideas. made his operettas the highest form of the
genre he ereated. and of wide]] lie remain, till' un disputed master. He died in Paris. His works in clude: Les deux arengles (1855) ; (1855) ; Lc financier it le SU relict. (1856) ; Crorprefer on le dernier des paladins Le inaria fir aux ;quitrent's La chatle nutta .
morphos(.'e frill Ille 1858) ; MT/We aux en fees (1858); Ihzphnis cl (181?0); Barkoof (1860); Monsieur el Madame Denis (1862) ; La belle 110('ne Barbe-Itleue (1866) ; La grand(' duchesse de r,Yro/s/cin (1567) La vie parisienne (1866); Robinson Crusne ( 186i) l'ert-l'ert Les brigands ( 1869) ; La jo/ic parfuniestse (187:3); Madame Facart (1879); La Jiflc (In tansbour-major (1879); Belle Lurette (1880) ; Les conies d'lloff mann (1881) ; and many others. Consult Martinet, Offenbach, sa ric et son warm (Paris, 1892).