Premiere of Offenbach's Orpheus in the Underworld

Background. Offenbach had presented numerous one-act operettas between 1855 and 1858. In 1858, licensing restrictions were relaxed, allowing him to stage a two-act work he had planned for some time. The final libretto was credited to Crémieux alone, as his collaborator Halévy was occupied with civil service duties. The piece was scored for a specific orchestra including flutes, clarinets, and strings.

Premiere. The first performance took place on 21 October 1858 at the Salle Choiseul, part of the Théâtre des Bouffes-Parisiens. It was presented as a two-act opéra bouffon with a cast of 16. The opening featured a short orchestral introduction beginning with a quiet woodwind melody, followed by Jupiter's minuet theme, and transitioning into Public Opinion's monologue.

Reception. The original production became a box-office success, running well into 1859 and rescuing Offenbach's company from financial difficulty. Critics recognized the satire as cheeky rather than hard-hitting, viewing the cancan as a social palliative. The Emperor enjoyed the work at a command performance in 1860, telling Offenbach he would never forget the evening.