Role

:

Composer

Country

:

France

Birth

:

April 12, 1840

Death

:

August 17, 1901

Period

:

Romantic

Genre

:

Opera

 

Edmond Audran was a French composer of light operas and operettas, born on April 11, 1840, in Lyon, France. He was the son of a music teacher and began his musical education at a young age. He studied at the Paris Conservatory, where he won the Prix de Rome in 1861 for his cantata, La Rose de Florence. Audran began his career as a composer of serious operas, but he soon turned to light opera and operetta, which became his specialty. His first success in this genre was with the operetta La Mascotte, which premiered in 1880. The work was an instant hit and was performed over 1,000 times in Paris alone. It was also popular in other countries, including England and the United States. Audran's next major success was with the operetta Les Noces d'Olivette, which premiered in 1879. The work was also popular in France and abroad and was performed over 700 times in Paris alone. Audran's other notable works include La Cigale et la Fourmi (1886), Miss Helyett (1890), and La Poupée (1896). Audran's music is characterized by its lightness and charm, as well as its catchy melodies and witty lyrics. His works often feature romantic plots and comic situations, and they are known for their colorful orchestration and lively dance numbers. In addition to his work as a composer, Audran was also a conductor and music director. He served as the conductor of the Théâtre des Bouffes-Parisiens from 1887 to 1893 and was the music director of the Théâtre de la Gaîté from 1898 to 1902. Audran died on August 17, 1901, in Tierceville, France, at the age of 61. His legacy lives on through his music, which continues to be performed and enjoyed by audiences around the world.

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