Jacques Offenbach (born Cologne 20 June 1819; died Paris 5 October 1880)

Offenbach is a French composer of German origins (he became a naturalised French citizen in 1860) who wrote some of the most attractive and melodious music for the stage during the middle years of the nineteenth century.

While his final work, the opéra fantastique The Tales of Hoffmann is one of the most significant French operas of the nineteenth century, Offenbach’s main achievement is in the field of operetta in which he excelled, producing almost 100 examples.

Several operettas continue to keep a place in the repertory, notably Orpheus in the Underworld and La belle Hélène which, though based on ancient myth, mercilessly satirise Napoleon III’s Second Empire and Parisian society of the day.

This is the first Nocturne Supper Club of 2023, and we want to see the new year commence on the same high note that we bade farewell to 2022 with Gilbert & Sullivan. There's no better composer to do this than Jacque Offenbach. Be prepared for a live dance performance of his inimitable Can-Can and more...