Role

:

Composer

Birth

:

May 29, 1843

Death

:

February 10, 1917

 

Émile Pessard was a French composer and conductor who lived from 1843 to 1917. He was born in Montmartre, Paris, to a family of musicians. His father, Louis Pessard, was a composer and conductor, and his mother, Louise Farrenc, was a pianist and composer. Émile Pessard showed an early talent for music and began studying the piano and violin at a young age. Pessard studied at the Paris Conservatory, where he was a student of Ambroise Thomas and François Bazin. He won the Prix de Rome in 1866 for his cantata "Le Jugement de Dieu," which earned him a scholarship to study in Rome. While in Rome, Pessard studied with Giovanni Sgambati and became interested in Italian opera. Upon his return to Paris, Pessard began a career as a conductor and composer. He conducted at the Théâtre des Bouffes-Parisiens and the Opéra-Comique, and he also served as the conductor of the Société des Concerts du Conservatoire. Pessard's compositions were well-received, and he became known for his light and charming style. One of Pessard's most famous works is his ballet "Les Deux Pigeons," which premiered at the Opéra-Comique in 1886. The ballet tells the story of a young man who is torn between his love for a gypsy girl and his duty to his fiancée. The music is light and playful, with a memorable waltz that has become a popular concert piece. Pessard also composed several operas, including "Le Capitaine Fracasse" and "Le Roman de la Rose." His operas were not as successful as his ballets, but they are still performed occasionally today. In addition to his stage works, Pessard composed a number of chamber music pieces, including a string quartet and a piano trio. He also wrote several pieces for wind instruments, including a popular flute concerto. Pessard was a respected teacher as well as a composer. He taught at the Paris Conservatory from 1882 until his death in 1917. His students included Maurice Ravel, Georges Enesco, and Florent Schmitt. Despite his success as a composer and teacher, Pessard's personal life was marked by tragedy. His wife died in 1889, leaving him to raise their two young children alone. Pessard's son, Georges, was killed in World War I, and Pessard himself died just a few months later. Today, Émile Pessard is remembered as a talented composer who contributed to the French musical tradition. His light and charming style continues to delight audiences, and his works are still performed and recorded today.

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