Jacques Offenbach: A Parisian Satirist and Composer of Wit Jacques Offenbach (1819-1880) stands as a singular figure in 19th-century French culture—a composer whose operas, particularly his operettas, achieved unparalleled success while simultaneously delivering biting social commentary. Born Jakob Eberst to a Jewish family in Cologne, Germany, he possessed an innate musical talent that propelled him from humble beginnings to the glittering salons of Paris, where he adopted the name Jacques Offenbach and cemented his reputation as one of the era’s most celebrated artists. Early Life & Educa…