Parody and influences thumb|left|Offenbach by André Gill, 1866|alt=Drawing of Offenbach, in concert dress and a crown of roses, riding through the sky on a giant violin, accompanied by a dog called Barkouf, over a whimsical background composed of scenes from his operettas and flowers Offenbach was well known for parodying other composers' music. Some of them saw the joke and others did not. Adam, Auber and Meyerbeer enjoyed Offenbach's parodies of their scores. Meyerbeer made a point of attending all Bouffes-Parisiens productions, always seated in Offenbach's private box. Among the composers who were not amused by Offenbach's parodies were Berlioz and Wagner.Gammond, pp. 59, 63 and 73 Offenbach mocked Berlioz's "strivings after the antique",Henseler, quoted in Hughes, p. 46 and his initial light-hearted satire of Wagner's pretensions later hardened into genuine dislike.Gammond, pp. 59 and 127 Berlioz reacted by bracketing Offenbach and Wagner together as "the product of the mad German mind", and Wagner, ignoring Berlioz, retaliated by writing some unflattering verses about Offenbach.
Parody and influences thumb|left|Offenbach by André Gill 1866|alt=Drawing of Offenbach in concert dress and a crown of roses riding through the sky on a giant violin accompanied by a dog called Barkouf over a whimsical background composed of scenes from his operettas and flowers Offenbach was well known for parodying other composers' music Some of them saw the joke and others did not Adam Auber and Meyerbeer enjoyed Offenbach's parodies of their scores Meyerbeer made a point of attending all Bouffes-Parisiens productions always seated in Offenbach's private box Among the composers who were not amused by Offenbach's parodies were Berlioz and WagnerGammond pp 59 63 and 73 Offenbach mocked Berlioz's "strivings after the antique"Henseler quoted in Hughes p 46 and his initial light-hearted satire of Wagner's pretensions later hardened into genuine dislikeGammond pp 59 and 127 Berlioz reacted by bracketing Offenbach and Wagner together as "the product of the mad German mind" and Wagner ignoring Berlioz retaliated by writing some unflattering verses about Offenbach