Operetta four-hands

The popularity of opéra-bouffe in late nineteenth-century Europe can easily be gauged by its extraordinary circulation to every opera stage, in France and elsewhere. Another clue lies in the phenomenal number of transcriptions made available by music publishers.

Primarily intended for the piano, these scores brought the wonderful melodies of Hervé, Offenbach and their successors into the homes of the many. Focusing on one particular tune or bringing all the highlights of a work together in a single “bouquet”, such instrumental adaptations could also invite listeners to dance the quadrille.