He was born in Cologne, but it was in Paris that Jacques Offenbach achieved fame. A special feature of this 30-CD collection are star-studded recordings in both French and German of his most celebrated operettas – works that overflow with joie de vivre and satirical wit – and of Les Contes d’Hoffmann, an opera that daringly fuses fantasy, comedy and tragedy. It also includes irresistibly stylish performances of such tempting rarities as Les Brigands, Pomme d’Api, Monsieur Choufleuri and Mesdames de la Halle.

Artists; Michel Plasson, John Eliot Gardiner, Sylvain Cambreling, Willy Mattes, Manuel Rosenthal, John Aler, Colette Alliot-Lugaz, Gabriel Bacquier, Teresa Berganza, José Carreras, Régine Crespin, Adolf Dallapozza, Michel Dens, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Nicolai Gedda, Jean-Philippe Lafont, Mady Mesplé, Ann Murray, Jessye Norman, Jane Rhodes, Anneliese Rothenberger, Neil Shicoff, Michel Sénéchal, Michel Trempont of José van Dam.