An archive for Offenbach's estate
The Bibliotheque national de France in Paris wants to take over a large part of Jacques Offenbach's estate. It is calling for cooperation.
After the death of Offenbach's wife Herminie, the composer's estate was divided among the couple's four daughters in 1887. All of the partial holdings resulting from this division are largely scattered, with the exception of the collection which the library (BnF) would like to acquire and which has been preserved in its entirety.
The archive consists mainly of manuscript scores, mostly annotated manuscript booklets, iconographic documents, archival materials and bequests. It also contains manuscripts of great masterpieces (La Grande-duchesse de Gérolstein, Les Contes d'Hoffmann and so on). Unpublished collections from the Théâtre de la Gaîté and the Théâtre des Bouffes Parisiens, the cradle of operetta, also shed light on the decisive years of 19th century opera.
The BnF is hoping for 200,000 euros from donors to purchase the Offenbach Fund, the price of which has been set at 1.69 million euros.
More info: https://www.bnf.fr/fr/participez-lacquisition-du-fonds-offenbach
