Role

:

Composer

Birth

:

1846

Death

:

1936

 

Albert Périlhou was a French composer born on January 22, 1846, in Toulouse, France. He was the son of a music teacher and began his musical education at a young age. Périlhou showed great promise as a musician and was sent to study at the Paris Conservatory at the age of 14. At the Conservatory, Périlhou studied under some of the most prominent composers of the time, including Ambroise Thomas and César Franck. He quickly established himself as a talented composer and won several awards for his work. Périlhou's early compositions were heavily influenced by the Romantic style of music that was popular at the time. His first major work, a symphony in D minor, was well-received by critics and established him as a composer to watch. In the years that followed, Périlhou continued to compose music in a variety of genres, including chamber music, opera, and ballet. He was particularly skilled at writing for the piano and composed several works for the instrument, including a piano concerto that was premiered in 1879. One of Périlhou's most famous works is his opera, "Le Passant," which premiered in 1881. The opera tells the story of a young man who falls in love with a woman he sees on the street and follows her to her home. The woman's husband catches the young man and challenges him to a duel, which ends in tragedy. "Le Passant" was a critical and commercial success and established Périlhou as one of the leading opera composers of his time. The opera was performed throughout Europe and was even staged in New York City. In addition to his work as a composer, Périlhou was also a respected music teacher. He taught at the Paris Conservatory for many years and had a significant impact on the next generation of French composers. Périlhou's later works showed a shift away from the Romantic style of music that had dominated his earlier compositions. He began to experiment with new forms and techniques, incorporating elements of Impressionism and other modernist movements into his music. Despite his success as a composer and teacher, Périlhou's life was not without its challenges. He suffered from poor health for much of his life and was forced to take extended breaks from his work. He also struggled with financial difficulties and was forced to sell many of his possessions to make ends meet. Despite these challenges, Périlhou continued to compose music until his death in 1921. His legacy as a composer and teacher lives on, and his contributions to the world of classical music continue to be celebrated today.

More....