Jules Massenet French Opera Master
Considered France's Greatest Late 19th Century Operatic Composer
Jules Massenet was a leading opera composer during the 19th-century France, making his mark alongside prominent composers in other parts of Europe like Franz Liszt, Giuseppe Verdi and Richard Wagner. Massenet is most famous for operas Le Cid, Manon, and Thäis.
Early Years: Training and Education, Influence
Born in Montand, St Etienne, France, on May 12, 1842, he was the son of an officer. He began piano lessons with his mother. The family moved to Paris after the French revolution. At age 11, he entered Paris Conservatoire as a piano pupil of Adolphe Laurent, later studied harmony with Reber, and composition with Ambroise Thomas. Like Charles Gounod and few other composers, Massenet won the Prix de Rome. In Rome, he met Liszt from whom he received much support and encouragement. It was also Liszt who introduced him to Constance de Sainte-Marie, who became his pupil and eventually his wife, after his return to Paris.
Musical Career
He himself became a composition teacher in the conservatoire, his successful students being Gustave Charpentier, Charles Koechlin, Reynaldo Hahn and George Enescu. From the earlier sentimental melodic Gounod-influence style of music, he moved to a more Wagner lyrical tone. The change was felt in operas Manon and Werther.
Jules Massenet's first opera La Gran'tante (The Great Aunt) was performed in Paris. His fame and success started after the premiere of opera Manon which for two decades established him as the most popular French opera composer. Two other popular operas were Le Cid and Thaïs, including that beautiful and bewitching intermezzo 'Meditation.' His musical career was cut short for a while as he served in the National Guard during the Franco-Prussian war.
Best remembered for his operas, Massenet was only eclipsed with the coming of the new generation impressionist composers, such as Claude Debussy. His long and successful career include many operas mainly for the Paris Opera and Opera-Comique. He died in Paris aged 70.
Operas by Jules Massenet
- La Grand'tante (The Great Aunt) 1867
- Hérodiade (Herodias) 1881
- Manon 1884
- Le Cid 1885
- Esclarmonde 1889
- Werther 1892
- Thaïs, including the intermezzo Méditation 1894
- Cendrillon (Cinderella) 1899
- Le jongleur de Notre-Dame (The Minstrel or Juggler of Notre-Dame) 1902
- Don Quichotte (Don Quixote) 1910
Other Works by Jules Massenet
- Requiem, c.1863
- Scènes pittoresques, for orchestra 1874
- Oratorio, La Vierge (The Virgin) 1880
- Ballets (3)
- Choral music, including motets, cantatas and partsongs
- Vocal music (over 200 songs, including cycles)
- Instrumental Music, including suites, overtures
- Chamber music
Sources Consulted
Opera, András Batta, edited by Sigrid Neef, Könemann (2000)
The Encyclopedia of Music by Max Wade-Matthews & Wendy Thompson, Hermes House (2004)
The Grove Concise Dictionary of Music, edited by Stanley Sadie, Macmillan (1994)
The Oxford Companion to Music, edited by Alison Latham, Oxford (2002)
Jules Massenet
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