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Today in History: Offenbach premieres “Orpheus” in Paris featuring can-can

By Drooid · Oct 21, 2026, 10:32 AM UTC · How we work

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Summary

Story summary

On 21 October 1858, Jacques Offenbach premiered his comic operetta *Orphée aux enfers* at Paris’s Théâtre des Bouffes-Parisiens. The work, a satire of mythic love affairs, introduced the lively can-can music that would become a hallmark of French music-hall dance, cementing Offenbach’s role in shaping the operetta genre.

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Story summary

On 21 October 1858, Jacques Offenbach premiered his comic operetta *Orphée aux enfers* at Paris’s Théâtre des Bouffes-Parisiens. The work, a satire of mythic love affairs, introduced the lively can-can music that would become a hallmark of French music-hall dance, cementing Offenbach’s role in shaping the operetta genre.