The New Student's Reference Work/Offenbach, Jacques

Offenbach (ṓf′fen-bäk′), Jacques, a Franco-Jewish composer, was born at Cologne, Germany, June 21, 1819. He settled at Paris, and became manager in one of the theaters. He composed a great number of operettas, but is best known for a series of burlesque operas, which make him the father of the modern comic opera. The Grand Duchess, The Beautiful Helen, Genevieve of Brabant, Barbe-bleue and Madame Favart are among the most notable, the last being very popular in England. He died at Paris, Oct. 5, 1880.