A Study Into The Social Significance Of Offenbach’s Operetta Orphée Aux Enfers

In the 19 th century,France was in a tumultuous period,with a turbulent social environment,and dynasties and regimes constantly changing in a short period of time.In this historical context,environmental factors greatly influence the artistic creations of composers.Therefore,we can more or less glimpse the social landscape of that time from their works.This paper selects Jacques Offenbach’s operetta Orphée aux enfers as the research object to deeply explore the internal meaning reflected in the work.This article is divided into three chapters,in addition to the introduction and conclusion.The first section of the opening chapter outlines the historical background of operetta from three aspects of the French political background,literary trend of thought and opera environment in the 19 th century.The second section outlines the creation background,performance and social impact of operetta Orphée aux enfers.Chapter 2 starts with the opera script and explores the satirical implications implied in Orphée aux enfers.By comparing the mythology of the original Ovid version with that of Orphée aux enfers,it highlights Offenbach’s subversion of ancient Greek mythology and the changes in the theme of "Orpheus" in different eras.Combined with the context of the times,it analyzes why such changes have occurred.The third chapter selects several representative pieces of music from "Orphée aux enfers,and explores the composer’s creative techniques through the analysis of the music itself,as well as how they respectively presented the social landscape at that time and how to satirize it.After this article’s in-depth analysis of Orphée aux enfers,it can be clearly seen that the work is inextricably linked to objective social reality,whether it is the influence of political decision-making,the influence of literary thought,the influence of the musical environment,and his time in the Parisian life circle and entertainment circle,all of which bring him more inspiration and reference close to life in the creation of his works.Not only that,from this work,you can also analyze the social reality reflected in the music and storyline.Therefore,it can be said that the social environment of nineteenth-century Paris had a considerable degree of influence on Offenbach,and it also gives us the opportunity to re-examine the deeper issues of the political environment,social background and popular class of nineteenth-century France from his Orphée aux enfers.It is this historical environment that creates such musical works,which is in line with the law of artistic development.