Vent du soir, ou L'horrible festin

Vent-du-soir ou l'horrible festin is a one-act opérette-bouffe with music by Jacques Offenbach and a libretto by Philippe Gille, which was premiered at the Bouffes-Parisiens Salle Choiseul, on 16 May 1857.

[1] The work was the first collaboration between Philippe Gille and Offenbach, and the start of a friendship between them which endured until the death of the latter.

[2] It also marked the first appearance with Offenbach of the singer-actor Désiré, who went on to create many roles in the composer's works.

Atala, daughter of Vent-du-soir, meanwhile, has fallen in love with the ship-wrecked stranger Arthur, a hair-dresser of the rue Vivienne.

Luckily the diners learn that in fact they have been served a bear, in whose skin Arthur had been hiding.