The letter this week is O
O stands for Jacques Offenbach who wrote this marvelous Galope Infernal taken from Act 2 Scene 2 of his operetta 'Orpheous in the Underworld', first performed in 1858.
Offenbach used Greek mythology as a backdrop, the operetta being an irreverent parody and scathing satire on Gluck and his 'Orfeo ed Euridice'.
It culminates in this risque galop infernal that shocked some in the audience at the premiere!!! It is famous outside classical circles as the music for the "Can-can. BTW, Saint-Saens borrowed the Galop, slowed it to a crawl, and arranged it for the strings to represent the tortoise in 'The Carnival of the Animals'.
But this is Offenbach's day, so do enjoy this rendition by the FernsehBallett, and visit here at ABC Wednesday for more interpretations of the letter O, with thanks to Mrs. Nesbitt and her 'orferly' good helpers.
10 comments:
Interesting!
Learn some Filipino custom and words with my O entr
Truly shocking it was. But then most things that bring in the new are considered that at the time. Well done, Offenbach.
Well, that was fun!
You have again treated us to a real beautiful post! I have always liked the can can and the music of Offenbach. Good choice Hildred and Charles.
Thanks for visiting my blog.
You CAN CAN write about Offenbach anytime!
ROG, ABC Wednesday team
I love Orpheus Hildred - it is one of my favourites, so I enjoyed the clip immensely. Thanks.
Great post for the letter O. I enjoyed it.
Your description of the Offenback-Glick antagonism reminds me of the more modern conflict between the animators at Disney and Warner Brothers. Walt Disney took himself far too seriously with Fantasia, and the bad boys at WB went to great lengths in several cartoons to mock his mawkishness, most obviously in A Corny Concerto. My ABC Wednesday is O is for Oracle.
Terrific post!
I didn't know that about the Can Can and the Carnival of the Animals. I must go back and listen to that again. Very interesting.
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