Welcome to the world of saucy cabaret divas! These vintage postcards sizzle with history and life. These feathered ladies dance through my imagination to Jacques Offenbach's 'Orphee in the Underworld ' which is the score most associated with the cancan. It is also nicknamed the 'Infernal Gallop!'
I embedded the music on the sidebar of this post. Click away for uplifting reading music! It is a hilarious and satirical operetta which was written in 1858. Jacques was a German Jew born in Cologne. His name was changed from Jacob to Jacques after immigrating as a child with his family to Paris. His father forced the violin upon him. The young lad rebelled and played the cello in secret. That's not much of a revolt in my opinion!
His 100 operettas were wildly popular before the war between France and Germany broke out in 1870. He was accused of being an agent of Bismark and was forced to flee from his beloved country. The Germans had also labeled him a traitor so he certainly couldn't return to his place of birth either.
Offenbach has been called the Mozart of the Champs -Elysées. He influenced greats including Gilbert and Sullivan. Symphonic pieces need not always be romantic or serious. These grand opera parodies with biting political and cultural satire are right up my alley!
