Role

:

Composer

Country

:

France

Birth

:

December 30, 1853 in Montluçon

Death

:

February 24, 1929 in Paris, France

Period

:

Romantic

 

 

Contemporary

 

 

Modern

Genre

:

Opera

 

André Messager was a French composer, conductor, and pianist who was born on December 30, 1853, in Montluçon, France. He was the son of a bandmaster and began his musical education at a young age. He studied at the Paris Conservatoire, where he won first prize in piano and composition. Messager began his career as a conductor, working at the Opéra-Comique in Paris. He quickly gained a reputation as a skilled conductor and was appointed the conductor of the Covent Garden Opera in London in 1898. He remained in this position for 10 years, during which time he conducted many premieres of works by French composers, including Debussy's Pelléas et Mélisande. As a composer, Messager was known for his operettas and light operas. His most famous work is the operetta Véronique, which premiered in 1898 and became an instant success. The operetta tells the story of a young woman who disguises herself as a man to join a military band. It features catchy tunes and witty lyrics and has been performed all over the world. Messager's other notable works include the operettas Les P'tites Michu (1897), Monsieur Beaucaire (1919), and Passionnément (1926). He also composed ballets, including Les Deux Pigeons (1886) and La Basoche (1890), and orchestral works, such as the symphonic poem Les Deux Âmes (1891). In addition to his work as a composer and conductor, Messager was also a respected pianist. He often performed his own works and was known for his virtuosic playing. Messager died on February 24, 1929, in Paris, France. He left behind a legacy of light-hearted and entertaining music that continues to be performed and enjoyed today.

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