Offenbach: Pomme d'api & Trafalgar (Sur un volcan)

Featuring

Michael Alexander Willens
Magali Léger
Florian Laconi
Marc Barrard
Kölner Akademie
Jacques Offenbach

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Composition History

The work "Sur un volcan" was largely arranged and orchestrated by Offenbach, but the original score was penned by Ernest L'Épine, secretary to the Duc de Morny.

Composer Biography

After the Franco-Prussian War, Jacques Offenbach, the composer, was initially treated very badly due to his German origins but later experienced a renaissance in his career.

Composition History

"Sur un volcan" was performed only once at its premiere on December 29, 1855, alongside Offenbach's "Ba-Ta-Clan," and then disappeared from the repertoire.

Recording & Production

The manuscript for "Sur un volcan" was only recently rediscovered, with parts of it being pieced together from auction finds and previously unidentified sketches by Jean-Christophe Keck.

Composition History

Offenbach's operetta "Pomme d'api" premiered at the Théâtre de la Renaissance on September 4, 1873, a pivotal moment in the composer's career.

Performer Biography

Michael Alexander Willens, the artistic director of the Kölner Akademie, has a broad musical background, including studies with Leonard Bernstein, and is known for rediscovering forgotten works.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Offenbach's instrumentation in "Sur un volcan" shows his early mastery, with a quality that some compare to Mozart and even foreshadows later film composers like Nino Rota.