Gounod

(go-nS), Charles Franco is, compr. b. Paris, June 17, 1818; d there, Oct. 17, 1893. Father painter GOXJVY and engraver, mother an accomplished pst., who gave him his first le ons; studied at Lycde St Louis, entered Cons. 1836; pupil of Paer, Lesueur, and Haldvy, 1839 Grand pnx de Rome; studied Pal estrin a in Italy, and composed ma , after visiting Austria and Germany became orgt. at Mi ions etrangkes in Paris; studied theology and thought of taking orders; after 5 years of seclusion, performance of Me e solennelle in G, in London 1851, brought him into prominence; on commi ion from Opera, wrote Sapho 1851; his first operas, though praised for musical skill, were not popular succe es; as condr of Orpk , a union of singing societies ana schools. 1852-60, he wrote for them several choruses and 2 ma es; with Faust 1859 he attained European fame as compr and, after Philemon et Baucis 1860, MireiUe 1864, etc., almost touched the same height again in Romio et Juliette 1867; 1870- 75, during the war, G. lived in London, where he founded Gounod’s Choir (afterwards called Albert Hall Choral Society, later Royal Ch. Soc.), appeared at Philharmonic and Crystal Palace Concerts; after return to Paris operatic work was le and le succe ful; chief works of thispenod are oratorios intended for English audiences, Redemptiony Birmingham 1882, and Mors et vita Birmingham 1885; the songs, There is a green hill far away and Nazareth show best of popular melody. Pougin speaks of the characteristics of Ids genius as a musical phrase, new in form and characteristic in outline; harmonies rich, refined, sometimes unexpected; ingenious instrumentation full of color, grace, and elegance, and the full enchanting language of pa ion; emotional and pa ionate ne always was, even in his religious music, and at his worst this quality degenerates into weak sentimentality; at his highest, it is the garden scene m Faust.