OFFENBACH, JACQUES. (1819-1880). German-born, French composer; creator of The Tales of Hoffman and other masterpieces. ALS. (“Jacques Offenbach”). ½p. 8vo. N.p., N.d. To a friend. In French with translation.
“A thousand times thank you for your lovely article on Robinson, I was afraid for a moment that I had lost your kindness and friendship – thank you again for proving to me that this was not the case. In the meantime please accept, the assurance of all my feelings…”
A Prussian-born cello prodigy, Offenbach trained at the Paris Conservatoire and assimilated into French society achieving remarkable success as a composer and pioneer of the operetta form. Enormously prolific, his nearly 100 works include Orpheus in the Underworld, La vie Parisienne and La belle Hélène.
Our undated letter likely regards a review of Offenbach’s comic opera Robinson Crusoé, based on Daniel Defoe’s 1719 novel, which premiered at Paris’ Opéra-Comique on November 23, 1867. Although it received favorable reviews from the public and critics alike, Robinson Crusoé ran for only 32 performances. The outbreak of the Franco-Prussian War, which temporarily affected Offenbach’s popularity due to his German background, prevented revivals in the short term and Robinson Crusoé lay largely forgotten until its return to the stage in 1973.
Normal folding and written in Offenbach’s miniscule hand; in very fine condition.
