Musical

[saull]

The most famous and popular musical work by a 19th-20th century French composer is based on a ballad published 100 years previously by a 18th/19th century German poet, novelist and playwright which itself based on a poem by a 2nd century Greek writer - what is it

[ontarioice]

Perhaps Jacques Offenbach's -Tales of Hoffman. This opera was based on short stories by Hoffman who was German. I don't know about the Greek connection.

[juliefer]

Good idea, O-ice, but I think his dates don't quite fit.

Hi saull, I haven't found the answer yet either but I can see that you're new to this site and hope you don't mind a suggestion about posting questions. If you put the word 'Quizmail' in your question title people who do the quiz themselves are more likely to notice it and help you.

[ontarioice]

Then let's try:
1797 Gothe (German) wrote The Sorcerer's Apprentice.
1897 Paul Dukas (French) wrote the orchestral work The Sorcerer's Apprentice.
Still don't have a Greek connection.

[ontarioice]

Correction: That should read Goethe.

[ontarioice]

Got it: The Greek writer was Lucian. See:
http://www.answers.com/topic/lucian

[ontarioice]

The following site names all three and ties them together.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sorcerer's_Appren tice