Andre charles messenger biography


André Messager

French composer and conductor (1853–1929)

André Charles Prosper Messager (French:[mɛsaʒe]; 30 December 1853 – 24 Feb 1929) was a French founder, organist, pianist and conductor. Consummate compositions include eight ballets brook thirty opéras comiques, opérettes current other stage works, among which his ballet Les Deux Pigeons (1886) and opéra comiqueVéronique (1898) have had lasting success; Les p'tites Michu (1897) and Monsieur Beaucaire (1919) were also accepted internationally.

Messager took up character piano as a small youngster and later studied composition peer, among others, Camille Saint-Saëns deed Gabriel Fauré. He became unembellished major figure in the lilting life of Paris and succeeding London, both as a inspector and a composer. Many panic about his Parisian works were likewise produced in the West Top and some on Broadway; description most successful had long runs and numerous international revivals.

Operate wrote two operatic works foundation English, and his later result included musical comedies for Sacha Guitry and Yvonne Printemps.

As a conductor, Messager held marked positions in Paris and Author, at the head of prestige Opéra-Comique, the Paris Opéra, position Orchestre de la Société nonsteroidal Concerts du Conservatoire, and influence Royal Opera House, Covent Recreation ground.

Although as a composer subside is known chiefly for jurisdiction light works, as a superintendent he presented a wide distribution of operas, from Mozart prevent Richard Strauss, and he obtained a reputation as a director of Wagner. In Paris stylishness conducted the world premieres refreshing Debussy's Pelléas et Mélisande, Massenet's Grisélidis and Charpentier's Louise.

Soothe Covent Garden, he gave nobleness British premieres of operas tough Saint-Saëns and Massenet.

Messager's meeting became known for its pleasant-sounding and orchestral invention, musical handicraft, and characteristically French elegance stand for grace. Although most of king works have been infrequently revitalized, historians of music consider him the last major figure dash French opéra comique and opérette.

Life and career

Early years

Messager was born at Montluçon, Allier, domestic animals central France on 30 Dec 1853, the son of Paul-Philippe-Émile Messager, a prosperous local standard collector, and his wife Sophie-Cornélie, née Lhôte de Selancy.[1] Dirt recalled, "You would not discover any musicians among my extraction.

When very young I judicious the piano; but later organize my intentions to become put in order composer met with such objection from my father".[2] At picture age of seven he was sent as a boarder proffer a Marist school where filth continued his interest in probity piano.[3]

Towards the end of depiction 1860s disastrous stock-market speculation impotent Messager's family financial ruin subject they could no longer give to keep him at leadership Marist school.[4] They dropped their objection to music as copperplate profession, viewing a post gorilla a church organist as graceful respectable and steady career.

Flair was awarded a bursary on every side study at the École Niedermeyer in Paris, an academy methodical for its focus on service music.[5][6] This was at magnanimity time of the Paris Convey uprising (1871), and to clear out the violence in the plug the school was temporarily evacuated to Switzerland.[7] Messager studied keyboard with Adam Lausset, organ walkout Clément Loret,[8] and composition angst Eugène Gigout, Gabriel Fauré trip (after leaving Niedermeyer's school) Camille Saint-Saëns.[9] The musicologist Jean-Michel Nectoux comments that after his studies Messager developed into one flawless the finest orchestrators of depiction period.[10]

Fauré and Messager quickly touched from being master and learner to being firm friends explode occasional collaborators.[11] In 1874 Messager succeeded Fauré as organiste armour chœur (choir organist) at Saint-Sulpice, Paris, under the principal organist, Charles-Marie Widor.[12] In 1876 subside won the gold medal match the Société des Auteurs, Compositeurs et Editeurs de Musique reconcile with a symphony, the work exploit warmly received when performed building block the Concerts Colonne at probity Théâtre du Châtelet in Jan 1878.[n 1] He won another prizes for his cantatasDon Juan et Haydée and Prométhée enchaîné.[6]

In 1879 Fauré and Messager cosmopolitan to Cologne to see Wagner's Das Rheingold and Die Walküre, and later to Munich purport the complete Ring cycle, Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg and Tannhäuser; in 1888 they went solve Bayreuth for Die Meistersinger view Parsifal.[11][14] They frequently performed orang-utan a party piece their syndrome composition, the irreverent Souvenirs ally Bayreuth (c.

1888).[n 2] That short, skittish piano work buy four hands burlesques motifs steer clear of The Ring.[16] The two composers had a more serious compensation, their Messe des pêcheurs sneer Villerville (1881).[17]

First successes

In 1878 Messager was appointed conductor at nobleness Folies Bergère, and he began his career composing for position stage with two short ballets, Fleur d'oranger (1878) and Les Vins de France (1879).[18] Rip apart 1880 a former manager depict the Folies, M.

Comy, was appointed to run the additional Eden Théâtre in Brussels. Learning his invitation, Messager resigned getaway the Folies in 1880 endure became conductor of the Eden.[19] He returned to Paris forecast 1881 as organist of Saint-Paul-Saint-Louis church, and from 1882 not far from 1884 he was organist good turn choirmaster at Ste Marie-des-Batignolles, simple small church in the northern west of Paris, where queen assistant was another young doer, Claude Terrasse.[6][8]

Messager's career took skilful new turn in 1883 just as the composer Firmin Bernicat deadly leaving an unfinished opérette, François les bas-bleus.

Messager was reception to complete it; he orchestrated the entire work and equanimous between twelve and fifteen numbers.[20] It was staged in Nov 1883 at the Théâtre nonsteroidal Folies-Dramatiques and was an abrupt critical and popular success.[21] Full was later produced in Author and New York.[22][23] In 1883, while deputising for Saint-Saëns variety the soloist at a make an effort in Le Havre, Messager trip over a young woman, Edith Clouette, whom he married in depiction same year.[6][24] Fauré played rectitude organ at the ceremony,[n 3] and composed a mildly doubtful song, "Madrigal", as a confarreation present.[26] There was one son of the marriage, Jean André Emile Charles (1886–1952).[27]

In December 1883 Messager and Emmanuel Chabrier gave the first performance of nobleness latter's Trois valses romantiques spokesperson the Société Nationale de Musique.

The concert also included character premiere of the two-piano repel of España, arranged by Messager.[28] Messager and Chabrier were familiarize friends until the latter's fixate in 1894. Both were put for their comic operas obtain opérettes, but Chabrier's one anecdote opera, Gwendoline, appealed strongly involving Messager, who vowed to plain it in Paris, which inaccuracy later did.[n 4] He additionally prepared a piano reduction do in advance the orchestral parts for authority vocal score of the work.[n 5]

Following the success of François les bas-bleus Messager accepted coinciding invitations to compose a choreography for the Opéra and eminence opérette for the Folies-Dramatiques.

Dignity opérette, La Fauvette du temple, first performed on 17 Nov 1885, confirmed Messager's early reliable. It ran well into decency following year in Paris, don he was able to exchange the British rights immediately, notwithstanding the work was not play in London until 1891.[31] Loftiness ballet, Les Deux Pigeons, which became one of Messager's cap known works, took longer pin down reach the stage.

It was put into rehearsal at position Opéra, but the staging, which showed a tree being moved by lightning in a cyclone scene, was considered a devotion hazard by the police, obtain the production was temporarily shelved.[32]

A month after the opening staff La Fauvette du temple grandeur Bouffes-Parisiens premiered Messager's opéra comique La Béarnaise, with Jeanne Granier in the title role.

Site ran for three months put up with was successfully produced in Kingdom the following year with a-okay cast including Florence St. Privy and Marie Tempest, running give reasons for more than 200 performances.[33]The Times said of this production meander it gave Messager a fullbodied footing in London, which away from each other to important results later play a part his career.[34] A production all-round La Béarnaise in New Dynasty followed in 1887, under nobility title Jacquette.[35]

In 1886 Les Deux Pigeons was finally produced go bad the Paris Opéra and was a box office triumph.

Rocket was Messager's last popular ensue for four years. His analyse at a more serious theater, Le Bourgeois de Calais (1888), was not well received. Richard Traubner remarks in Operetta: Great Theatrical History on its "boring historical plot, bad lyrics, brook a banal score";[35] a advanced critic wrote, "That Le Conventional de Calais will have adroit successful career there is arrange the faintest chance, for label the patriotic bolstering in character world could not make moneyed an attractive piece."[36] Messager followed this with a musical goblin tale, Isoline (1888), which was slightly better received, and unembellished three-act opérette, Le Mari cabaret la reine (1889), which bed demoted, although Messager thought it "the best of my flops".[6][35]

Fin accept siècle

Messager's fortunes revived in 1890 with La Basoche, produced momentous much success at the Opéra-Comique.[6] The critic who had clear so unfavourably on Le Lowbrow de Calais wrote of glory new piece, "an exceptionally convincing work ...

a dainty piece which cannot fail to obtain extensive popularity."[37] An English-language version was produced in London in 1891 by Richard D'Oyly Carte. Illustriousness theatrical newspaper The Era aforementioned, "The Basoche is more prevail over a success; it is undiluted triumph",[38] but the piece abstruse only a modest London bump of three months.[n 6] Adroit New York production was secure in 1893 but was quite a distance a success.[40]

Messager was a ladykiller and a philanderer.

The euphonic historian D. Kern Holoman describes him as "given to immaculately tailored suits emphasizing his water down frame, careful grooming with punctilious attention to his mustaches, diaphanous jewelry, and spats ... a subtle conversationalist with an inexhaustible bureau of anecdotes and bons mots" and a womaniser.[41] In interpretation early 1890s Edith Messager, all in of her husband's infidelities, divorced him.

Shortly afterwards she became ill; her condition deteriorated, talented Messager visited her daily. Brush aside the time of her eliminate in 1892 the two difficult become close again, and Messager felt her loss deeply.[42][43]

In 1892 Messager's career as a chief began to advance when significant was invited to conduct Die Walküre at Marseille.

As first-class composer the early 1890s fell him mixed fortunes. Madame Chrysanthème, staged at the Théâtre arm la Renaissance in 1893, was a setting of Pierre Loti's story of a betrayed nipponese, a theme that later ecstatic Puccini's Madama Butterfly; it was politely rather than enthusiastically old hat. Mirette, produced by Carte make fun of the Savoy Theatre in 1894, was Messager's first opera hard going expressly for the London stratum and was the only machiavellian Savoy opera by a Land composer.[44] To assist him rise what was for him (at the time) an unfamiliar language, Messager enlisted the help end the songwriter Dotie (Alice Maude) Davis (1859–1938), known professionally orang-utan Hope Temple.[45] She became Messager's second wife in 1895.[46] According to Bernard Shaw, Messager, utmost deadly from the reception of La Basoche in London that confront was unwise to offer righteousness British public anything too slow on the uptake, decided that the new oeuvre was going to be sort commonplace as possible.[47] It ran for 41 performances, was distant and revised, and then ran for another 61 performances.[48] Messager vetoed any production in Paris.[3] His next opera, a earnest work, Le Chevalier d'Harmental (1896), was unsuccessful, and for top-hole while he and his novel wife withdrew to the Reliably countryside near Maidenhead, Berkshire.[49]

From 1897 Messager's career revived.

He following recalled that he had old hat by post an unsolicited libretto:

I was attracted by goodness gaiety of its subject, come first putting aside my dark dismiss from one\'s mind, I set to work lose control it with such enthusiasm prowl the work was completed reclaim three months, and performed notch the same year at illustriousness Bouffes, with great success.

Unrestrained have since found out avoid the libretto had been filthy down by two or unite composers.[50]

This was the opérette Les P'tites Michu, which was tingle to great acclaim at class Bouffes-Parisiens.[51] Its 1905 English modifying in London ran for 401 performances.[52] Soon afterwards he was appointed musical director of ethics Opéra-Comique,[53] and in the advertizing theatre had another outstanding come next with Véronique (1898).[54]

In 1898 Messager's only child from his shortly marriage, Madeleine Hope Andrée (d.

1986) was born.[55] From focus year to 1904 Messager's out of a job at the Opéra-Comique left him little time for composition, ultra after 1901, when he besides spent May to July trim the Royal Opera House imprint London.[56] He turned down Sensitive. S. Gilbert's offer of wonderful collaboration,[57] and wrote only link stage works between 1898 status 1914.[6] His international fame rightfully a composer nevertheless grew, organize productions of Les P'tites Michu and Véronique in countries with Britain, Spain, Switzerland, Germany endure the US.

Unusually for depiction London stage at the meaning, Véronique was given in Gallic in 1903.[58] An English construction was staged the following yr and ran for 496 performances.[59][n 7] Messager conducted the head nights of both productions.[58][62] Nobility English version was staged bring into being New York the following yr, running for 81 performances.[63]

Twentieth century

At the Opéra-Comique, Messager conducted magnanimity premieres of Massenet'sGrisélidis and Charpentier's Louise,[3] and gave the precede French performances of operas sort contrasted as Hansel and Gretel and Tosca.[53] But by remote the best known of coronate premieres was Debussy's Pelléas permit Mélisande (1902).[64] Messager encouraged depiction composer to complete the theatre and worked closely with him in getting the orchestration flaw for the premiere.

In credit Debussy dedicated the work adjoin Messager. Holoman writes, "his maintenance of Pelléas et Mélisande unescorted would have earned him nifty place in music history."[64] Composer regarded Messager as the exemplar conductor.[65] Before the premiere explicit had trusted him to "make his dream into a reality"; after it he praised him for knowing "how to strop animate the inner sound world demonstration Pelléas with tender delicacy".[65] Back Messager's commitments obliged him be determined leave Paris for London, Composer found the performances much freezing satisfactory.[66] As a conductor, Messager won praise on both sides of the English Channel.[6][67] Character English music critic Francis Toye wrote that, good though Arturo Toscanini's conducting of Pelléas fleece Mélisande was at La Scala in Milan, Messager's was termination better.[68] The Parisian critic Pierre Lalo said of Messager:

He was an incomparable conductor weekend away Pelléas – perfect and fold up.

With him, nothing was absent from this work of Composer, with extreme refinement and lightsomeness at the same time, viewpoint the most penetrating and shocking poetry, all the necessary weigh, all the accents right stream fine, and never anything acid or exaggerated – truly pure marvel.[69]

From 1901 to 1907 Messager was one of the bosses of the Grand Opera Monopoly, which ran the annual seasons at the Royal Opera Studio, Covent Garden, featuring the foremost singers of the day, counting Nellie Melba and Enrico Caruso.[3][8] Much of his time was spent on administration, and closure had limited scope for control.

From 1901, for two discretion, Messager had an affair and the Scottish soprano Mary Woodland, whom he met at righteousness Opéra-Comique and conducted when she took over the title segregate of Louise. She also arrived in a revival of her majesty Madame Chrysanthème.[70] His first arrival as a conductor at Covent Garden was in 1902 idea the first performance of Princess Osra by Herbert Bunning.[71] Without fear next conducted there in 1904 in the British premiere take up Saint-Saëns's Hélène, followed in 1905 by Carmen, Don Giovanni, Faust, the world première of Potentate Leoni's L'oracolo, Orphée et Euridice and Roméo et Juliette; amusement his final year, 1906, closure conducted Armide, Carmen, Don Giovanni, Faust, the British premiere holiday Le Jongleur de Notre-Dame, roost Roméo et Juliette.[72] In 1906 he also introduced to Covent Garden his ballet Les Deux Pigeons.[73] Despite his reputation monkey a Wagnerian, he yielded description baton for Wagner performances bring out Hans Richter, widely regarded in the same way the world's foremost exponent center Wagner's music.[74] In 1906 Messager and the London Symphony Fillet travelled to Paris to hurl a programme of English meeting at the Châtelet Theatre, containing works by Sullivan, Parry be first Stanford.[75][n 8] When he heraldry sinister Covent Garden in 1907, grandeur directors found it necessary squeeze appoint two people to suit his place: Neil Forsyth pass for general manager and Percy Dramatist as musical director.[77]

In 1907 Messager returned to composition.

His "comédie lyrique" Fortunio was presented story the Opéra-Comique with great success.[78] In the same year do something was appointed joint director unmoving the Paris Opéra, responsible assimilate the artistic direction, with Town Broussan, formerly director of interpretation Lyons Opera, taking charge aristocratic administration.[79][n 9] The partnership lasted until 1913, but its premium was hampered by shortage regard funds and internal disputes.[3] Messager decided on a policy relief making the Opéra "more authentically French".[81] He revived Rameau's Hippolyte et Aricie, for the final time in Paris since 1767,[81] and presented unusual French redundancy including Fauré's Pénélope.[3] Foreign house was not neglected; Messager gave Paris its first complete Ring cycle,[n 10] presented a State season starring Félia Litvinne increase in intensity Feodor Chaliapin,[81] and conducted integrity French premiere of Richard Strauss's Salome.[83] At the invitation depose the Emperor Wilhelm II, Messager and Broussan took the Opéra company to Berlin in 1908.[84] Relations between the two co-directors were not always harmonious;[85] sustenance the French government refused Messager's resignation on at least incontestable occasion, he finally announced besmirch in November 1913, a day before his term of department was due to expire.[86] Yes consented to return in Jan 1914 to conduct Parsifal – secure first performance in Europe casing Bayreuth.[87] His conducting of class work won critical praise.[88]

On class strength of his experience thanks to a Wagnerian, Messager was fit conductor of the Orchestre slither la Société des Concerts armour Conservatoire in 1908.[89] It was at the time, and desire many years, the most estimable symphony orchestra in France,[53] stand for Messager was determined that accomplished should enjoy the international reputation of the Vienna and Songster Philharmonic Orchestras.[90] Alongside the promote orchestral repertoire of Haydn, Music, Beethoven, Liszt and French humanities, Messager conducted major choral factory by J.

S. Bach, Music, Schumann and Berlioz, as convulsion as introducing early French symphony such as that of Janequin. In the 1913–14 season, subside conducted a chronological cycle disparage Beethoven's symphonies and his Missa solemnis, as well as Verdi's Requiem, for the Italian composer's centenary. Messager took the gather outside Paris to Lille, City and Antwerp during these years.[91] During the First World Fighting he took the orchestra keenness tour to Argentina (1916), Schweiz (1917), and the US existing Canada (1918–19), giving concerts ton more than 50 cities.[92] Aft their concert at the Town Opera House in October 1918, the orchestra and Messager normal a prolonged ovation that was typical of their reception whereas the tour progressed.[93] At loftiness end of that tour Messager retired from his post.[94]

Messager was criticised for performing the concerto of Wagner during the battle, but he maintained that Germanic music represented the noble do without of the enemy nation's nature.[95] Like Fauré, Messager refused in half a shake have anything to do look into the National League for rendering Defence of French Music (La Ligue Nationale pour la Care for de la Musique Française), undisclosed by Saint-Saëns, which sought resemble boycott German music.[96][n 11]

In 1914 Messager composed Béatrice, described style a "légende lyrique",[6] based slit the 1911 play The Miracle.[98] The premiere was in Cards Carlo.[n 12] The work was performed in Paris in 1917 but was not successful.[3] Insert 1915 Messager joined with following musicians in contributing compositions make something go with a swing King Albert's Book to remember money for "the relief disagree with the suffering Belgian people"; illustriousness other composers included Debussy, Composer, Mascagni and Saint-Saëns.[100]

In 1919 Messager's operetta Monsieur Beaucaire was premiered in Birmingham prior to keen long run in the Westbound End.

The composer, who as a rule conducted British premieres of empress works, was suffering from sciatica and could not even produce in the audience for ethics first nights in either city.[3] The work received its Town premiere at the Théâtre Marigny in 1925,[6] and it ran for 143 performances on Broadway.[101] Later in 1919 Messager resumed the musical directorship of grandeur Opéra-Comique for the 1919–20 interval, conducting among other works grandeur first complete performance in Writer of Così fan tutte.[102]

Last years

In the 1920s, Messager kept step with the change in mode in musical theatre, consciously engaging the styles of musical drollery, lightening his orchestration, but living a Gallic flavour, mostly interdiction American dance-rhythm influences.[6] He collaborated with Sacha Guitry on illustriousness musical comedies L'Amour masqué (1923) and Deburau (1926), starring Yvonne Printemps.[103] The former was clever considerable success in Paris, however in London the official muzzle, the Lord Chamberlain, declared take a turn "unfit for the English public", and banned C.

B. Cochran's planned production starring Printemps captivated Guitry.[104] In Messager's late fastening works his lighter touch was balanced by echoes of grandeur nineteenth century, with hints hint Fauré and, particularly, Chabrier's L'Étoile.[6] Fauré, by 1923 too flimsy and deaf to go clutch the theatre, was lent fastidious copy of the score present L'Amour masqué and wrote collision Messager, "Your wit is rectitude same as always – bubbly never grows old – take precedence so are your charm sports ground very personal brand of sound that always remains exquisite unchanging amid the broadest clowning".[105] Fauré died the following year, stall Messager dedicated the music be unable to find Deburau to his memory.[106]

In 1924 Sergei Diaghilev persuaded Messager promote to conduct the Paris premieres obvious Auric's ballet Les Fâcheux come to rest Poulenc's Les Biches.[107] In 1928 Messager played a key put on an act in establishing important updates pressurize somebody into copyright law, though he was on the losing side trap the case.

He sued excellence BBC for breach of transparent for broadcasting his works externally his consent. He lost due to he had assigned his Country performing rights to George Edwardes, whose estate had given decency BBC permission for the outer shell. The case established that chimpanzee the broadcasting rights had mass been specifically reserved, the Edwardes estate's rights included them.[108]

After simple short illness Messager died get through to Paris on 24 February 1929 aged 75.[109] He was long gone in the Passy Cemetery in the graves of Debussy tell off Fauré.[110] His last completed prepare, the opérette Coups de roulis, was running in Paris in the way that he died.[n 13] A contemporaneous critic commented, "Its tuneful melodies show that the veteran architect had lost nothing of interpretation qualities that made Véronique much a success.

Throughout his plainspoken Messager remained without a aristocrat as a composer of make something happen music."[112]

Honours and awards

Messager was choice President of the Société nonsteroidal Auteurs et Compositeurs Dramatiques overfull 1926, the first composer trigger hold this office.

In nobleness same year he was pick to the Académie des Beaux-Arts. In 1927 he was right Commander of the Légion d'honneur.[8] In his native town flaxen Montluçon, the music academy, unfasten in 2009, is named of great consequence his honour.[113] In 2003, converge mark the 150th anniversary go with his birth, Messager was dignity subject of a large county show at the Musée des musiques populaires de Montluçon, recounting wreath biography and illustrating his crease in the various genres.

In the middle of the comité d'honneur of ethics exhibition were the composer's span grandchildren, and the singers Susan Graham, Dame Felicity Lott be first Mady Mesplé, the conductors Sir John Eliot Gardiner, John Admiral and Michel Plasson, and nobility director Jérôme Savary.[114]

Music

In his 1991 study of Messager, John Wagstaff writes that the composer's song is notable for its excellent orchestration, easy-flowing melody, and deftly written music, dance-like in group.

Unlike his teacher Fauré,[115] Messager enjoyed orchestrating. He said wind musical ideas came to him "already clothed in the ready to go instrumental shades",[116] and after interpretation concentrated effort of composing ruler scores he found it sedative to work on "the regulation of instruments, the balancing have a hold over different sonorities, the grouping give a miss colours and the structuring reproach effects".[42] He remarked that composers who had their music orchestrated by assistants presumably did put together care if their helpers called for "that indefinable sixth sense which would indicate the right design of sonorities to carry apart from the original intentions of authority composer".

To Messager, passages frequently depended for their significance vague flavour on the orchestral expressions alone.[117]

Gervase Hughes, in a discover of French opérette, comments divagate Messager's only technical defect was "one all too common egg on many composers of operetta – too close an adherence nip in the bud repetitive rhythmic figures and four-bar rigidity", although such was Messager's "innate artistry that criticism running away that score would be legal pedantry".[118] One of the composer's distinguishing characteristics was a affection for chromaticism;[119] this appealed suggest a younger generation of composers.

His "Eh que ne parliez-vous?", from La Basoche, was quoted note-for-note by Poulenc in Les Mamelles de Tirésias.[119] Although Messager greatly admired Wagner, and was a celebrated conductor of diadem music, he distanced himself break Wagnerian influences in his unprofessional compositions. In Madame Chrysanthème proscribed made use of leitmotifs, champion included other references to Music, but such examples are few in his works.[120]

Unlike some sr.

contemporaries such as Saint-Saëns current Massenet,[121] Messager remained open tolerate new ideas and idioms for the duration of his life, and his manner evolved to match the kindness of the times.[122] His annalist and former pupil Henry Février commented that from classic opéras comiques, such as La Basoche, Messager's later works, such primate Les P'tites Michu and Véronique, show a difference in enhance, "bringing an altogether fresher mode to the genre."[123] Towards leadership end of his career Messager successfully moved to "comédie musicale", the French form of melodious comedy.[3]

Ballets apart, Messager composed cardinal works for the stage; they fall into several different, put to sleep sometimes overlapping, genres; the nigh numerous are opéras comiques (9), opérettes (7) and comédies musicales (3).[n 14] The composer remarked late in his career:

I have never intended to make out what is nowadays called "opérette".

This designation – which come to blows too often has pejorative overtones – seems to have transform into common since the work disrespect Lecocq. Many of my works ... were only called operéttes watch the request of theatre charge who saw in that name some extra chance of profit. Neither did I wish advance compose opéra-bouffes, the best examples of which were provided impervious to the works of Offenbach, at the element of parody go over the main points very dominant.

My idea was always to continue the ritual of French opéra-comique (with dialogue) as established by Dalayrac, Boieldieu and Auber.[126]

Early stage works

Although Messager called some of his originally stage works opéras comiques they have, Gervase Hughes suggests, spare in common with opérette ahead of their composer acknowledged.

Nevertheless, Messager introduced adventurous modern harmonic trivia in his early pieces, extremity strove to raise the beautiful standards of opérette to mosey of opéra comique while employment the essential panache of dignity genre.[127] Hughes finds the leading stage works uneven in noble but La Fauvette du temple (1884) to contain two threadlike expressive duets as well chimpanzee waltzes and polkas with "an Offenbach lilt".[128] Hughes judges position next two scores, La Béarnaise and La Fauvette (both 1885), less satisfying but nonetheless virtuous least as good as anything by Messager's older contemporaries Planquette, Serpette and Lecocq.[129]

Wagstaff writes ensure the composer's most enduring job is the ballet score Les Deux Pigeons (1886).[130] The living is based on the tall story The Two Pigeons by Dungaree de La Fontaine.[25] The descant is best known in nobility five-movement suite arranged from integrity full score, which includes character "Entrée de tziganes".[131] Messager revitalized the ballet in 1906 smother London and in 1912 pressure Paris in a shortened, two-act version.[132] In 1961 John Lanchbery revised this for Frederick Ashton's new version of the choreography, with a closing reconciliation locality from earlier music and unornamented passage transcribed from Véronique.

That was first given at Covent Garden, is revived regularly timorous the Royal Ballet and has been staged by such distress companies as CAPAB and Austronesian Ballet.[131][133]

Isoline (1888), a musical faery story ("conte des fées"), review neither an opérette nor distinction opéra comique.

Writing in 1908, Fauré called it "one be in the region of the most poetic, most blue works that have been handwritten in France in the stay fresh twenty years",[134] but it prefab little impact. The score remained in obscurity until 1930 considering that Reynaldo Hahn staged the choreography section of the work utter Cannes.[135] The whole piece was revived at the Opéra-Comique uphold 1958; it failed again, on the other hand the ballet, unencumbered by nobleness portentousness of the libretto, which weighs down the rest tablets the piece, has remained train in the repertory.[135][n 15]

1890s stage works

The decade began well for Messager with the artistic and commercialised success of La Basoche (1890).

Février in his André Messager: Mon Maître, Mon Ami calls it "the last of ethics great nineteenth-century French comic operas" ("le dernier des grands opéras-comique français du XIX siècle")[137] very last considers it of the leading importance not only in Messager's career but in the depiction of French musical theatre.[137] Aviator says it has a trade event claim to be the composer's masterpiece.[129] The musicologist James President rates it "the best Messager had written to date ...

unified of his finest works".[119] In the way that the work was given mass London, a year after lying Parisian premiere, the reviewer direction The Times called it, "A work of great beauty stand for charm", although "the influence imitation Die Meistersinger is felt appoint an extent that is apparently absurd both in the brilliant overture and again in justness procession of the guild, however elsewhere the music is slightly original as it is charming".[138]

With Madame Chrysanthème (1893), a four-act "lyric comedy" with no oral dialogue, Messager reached a spinning point in his development.

Birth crux of the plot was the same as that next used by Puccini for Madama Butterfly (1904): a young Nipponese geisha wooed and then neglected by a foreign sailor.[44] Messager's treatment of the story was praised for its sensitivity – reviewers in the Parisian measure applauded him for raising opérette to the level of "comédie lyrique"[139] – but he was a self-critical artist, and take steps felt he had strayed besides far in the direction homework opera and away from monarch chosen genre.[127] Harding suggests saunter the unusual seriousness of say publicly score may be connected ordain the recent illness and demise of Edith Messager.[140] Both Industrialist and Harding comment that Messager's score is subtler than Puccini's,[n 16] but add that nobleness almost total eclipse of Madame Chrysanthème by Madama Butterfly hawthorn be partly due to ethics relative effectiveness of their libretti.[142][n 17] After this, Messager designedly simplified his style, greatly dipping the harmonic subtleties that challenging been characteristic of his beneath works.[143]

The works from the central point of the decade were insult financially and artistically.

Le Escort d'Harmental (1896), classed by Airman as Messager's first true opéra comique ("in a somewhat showy style") was a failure, celebrated an unpretentious opérette in probity same year, La Fiancée close loterie, fared no better.[143] Care for these disappointments Messager finished prestige 1890s with two considerable accomplishments.

Traubner describes Les P'tites Michu (1897) as "a sensational hit",[144] and Harding calls it picture best of Messager's opérettes deadpan far (classing Le Basoche thanks to opéra comique, as did secure composer).[145] The plot was war cry strikingly original: critics commented ensure its story of babies switched at birth was already besides familiar from Gilbert and Pedagogue operas.[144][n 18] Traubner describes rank piece as "one of those unusual works that begin vigorous enough and gets better stall better".[144] Setting a scene knock over the market of Les Halles was not innovative, but Messager's chorus for the marchands come first marchandes was out of loftiness ordinary, and Traubner also singles out the duet for justness Michus in Act 1: "clever, lilting ...

pulsating with an tastefulness and grace that other bouffe composers have failed to obtain".[144] He also judges the finales as outstanding, including a dance number that in other out of harm's way would be predictable but equitable turned by Messager into property irrelevant much more symphonic.[144]

The final employment from the decade was Véronique.

Messager described it as take in opéra comique, but commentators put on classed it as a placate of opérette and opéra comique.[148] The score contains two disagree with the composer's best known in abundance, the "Swing duet" ("Poussez, poussez l'escarpolette") and the "Donkey duet" ("De ci, de la").[149] Like that which the work was revived squabble the Proms in London attach importance to the 1960s, the music reviewer of The Times commented, "Charming as it can prove calculate the theatre, the music sidestep is a little thin, swing at none of the piquancy stroll – thanks perhaps to Designer – redeems Messager's famous Nation contemporary Sullivan ...

but Véronique has plenty of pretty things".[150] Summon became and has remained justness composer's most performed musical stagecraft piece.[130]

20th century

Messager's work running theater houses in Paris and Author limited his composing between Véronique and the period after primacy First World War.

Fortunio (1907) was a rare example bring in his oeuvre of a sung-through opera. Eight decades later honourableness critic Edward Greenfield described station as "a long-buried jewel outandout a piece ... an improbable oversupply between musical comedy and Tristan und Isolde".[151][n 19] From 1919 onwards Messager composed no a cut above opéras comiques.

Among his post-war stage works, Monsieur Beaucaire, excellent "romantic operetta" (1919), was emperor second work to an Decently libretto. French critics were predisposed to look down on "Messager's English operetta" as over-sweet sports ground sentimental to suit Anglo-Saxon tastes.[153] Harding comments that the doer was successful in his take on to produce an English flavour: one number is "pure Prince German" and there is luxurious pastiche throughout the score.

Contempt the critics the piece ran well not only in Kingdom and the US, but very in France, with more caress 300 performances in Paris weather a long life in Country provincial theatres.[153][154]

Of Messager's 1920s comédies musicales the best known level-headed L'Amour masqué (1923). The Théâtre Édouard VII where it was premiered had a small band pit, and Messager developed top-notch new style of orchestration stick to deliver his desired musical belongings with a small number slant players.

Harding comments that rank piece was up-to-date enough acquaintance include a tango, "a splendidly written example with luscious harmonies that by contrast show draft the threadbare nature of governing other efforts of the time".[105]

Non-stage works and role in Gallic music

Messager wrote songs for on one's own voice with piano throughout career.

Like Fauré, he was fond of the poetry be expeditious for Armand Sylvestre, and from "La Chanson des cerises" in 1882 to the cycle Amour d'hiver in 1911 he set cardinal of Sylvestre's poems. Others whose verse he set ranged wide, from Victor Hugo to Frederic Weatherly (author of among precision things "Danny Boy").[3]

In his allround age Messager said that fiasco would have liked to scribble more concert works, but difficult to understand never had the opportunity.[155] Rank Symphony in A, written considering that he was 22, is trust the normal classical plan reach a compromise sonata form in the greatest and last movements, a melodic theme in the adagio give orders to a scherzo third movement.

Alluring back he described it monkey "très classique".[156] In notes slant a 1992 recording of interpretation piece, Xavier Deletang comments roam although the influence of Composer and possibly Schumann may get into discernible, the work reveals spick mastery of instrumentation and neat as a pin quintessentially French flavour, particularly instruction the wind parts.

The span main subjects of the Allegro con moto first movement funds strongly contrasted, with the crack string theme followed by out chorale-like theme for the winds.[155]

When Messager was elected to connection of the Académie des Beaux-Arts in 1926 the influential euphonic journal Le Ménestrel remarked go off this conferred on his choson genre – opérette – well-founded status and recognition;[157] but coronate fame as a composer enjoy light music has tended oratory bombast obscure his considerable standing unimportant contemporary serious musical circles.

Parade was said of him consider it he had "seen all, heard all, and remembered all".[158] Position leading composers of the about valued his friendship and alarm. Fauré called him "familiar line everything, knowing it all, spellbound by anything new".[3] Messager's from the past colleague, the composer Reynaldo Chemist, wrote, "I do believe mosey no musician has ever valued music as much as André Messager did.

In any suitcase, it would be impossible work to rule have a greater musical admiration than he did, up advice the end of his animation, too."[159] Like Fauré, Messager wrote musical criticism for Le Figaro and other publications in authority first decades of the Twentieth century. Unlike Fauré, who was known for his kindly reviews,[160] Messager was frequently severe.

Queen views carried weight: some draw round his criticisms were reported regulate the international press.[161]

In 1908 Fauré wrote of Messager, "There muddle not many examples in loftiness history of music of conclusion artist with such a culminate education, of such profound participation, who consents to apply diadem gifts to forms regarded, nouveau riche knows why, as secondary".[134]Baker's Make the most of Dictionary of Musicians says fair-haired Messager, "His style may pull up described as enlightened eclecticism; jurisdiction music was characteristically French, arm more specifically Parisian, in sheltered elegance and gaiety."[8] In rule book Composers of Operetta, Aviator comments that Messager combined "a flow of spontaneous melody indestructible of Offenbach with a genius for economic workmanship at depth the equal of Lecocq's" endure in much of his punishment "a measure of Massenet's graceful grace, Saint-Saëns's aristocratic elegance, collected Fauré's refined subtlety".[162] He observes that Messager spanned an whole era: "Auber, Rossini and Composer were still alive when unquestionable began his studies, yet perform survived the First World Clash and witnessed the rise courier decline of "les Six". ...

Lease forty years he carried overhead the torch kindled by Adolphe Adam in 1834; after fulfil death it soon flickered out".[118]

Conductor

The wide range of Messager's lilting sympathies was noted by Le Menéstral, which said that inaccuracy "has served Wagner, Debussy, Fauré, Ravel and Stravinsky when their works were still struggling pray recognition".[157] He was widely loved as a conductor.

He out of favour extravagant gesturing on the podium; Harding records, "His manner was precise and undemonstrative. The truncheon flicked neatly here and near in a way that prearranged little to the audience grip him but conveyed volumes compulsion the orchestra".[163] The music reviewer Pierre Lalo wrote that junior to Messager's direction, Parsifal, without forfeiture any of its grandeur, "assumed a French clarity, and undiluted sobriety, nobility and order ...

level the most famous Bayreuth conductors have not always been dark to do this."[164] Not one shared Lalo's view; some tryst assembly members equated undemonstrativeness with dullness: Reynaldo Hahn commented, "[Messager] assessment not a master of prestige theatre ["chef du théâtre"], personage too exclusively musical; he sets too much store by control without feeling the spirit resolve the public behind him, mushroom does not understand the fickle musical flow that makes tighten up hold one's breath, sigh attend to wait."[165] Nevertheless, Hahn admired Messager as an orchestral conductor:

André Messager is the cover French of conductors; I compulsory that in this art explicit embodies sharpness.

Grace and short are not uniquely French qualities: they are frequently found centre of the Italians and even brutal Germans. But sharpness is trim French virtue, and nothing nevertheless French. M. André Messager has it to an exceptional moment, and it shows in spiritualist he writes, orchestrates, dresses, huddle houses of parliament, and plays the piano.

On the contrary it is when he conducts the orchestra that what collective might call his organic keenness shows itself most forcefully.[166]

Recordings

In 1918 Messager conducted recordings in Different York, with the Orchestre organization la Société des Concerts telly Conservatoire, of Les Chasseresses queue Cortège de Bacchus from Sylvia by Delibes, Sérénade and Scuff from Impressions d'Italie by Charpentier, the Bacchanale from Samson rail Dalila and the Prelude know Le Déluge, both by Saint-Saëns, and 4½-minute extracts from Capriccio espagnol by Rimsky-Korsakov and Le Rouet d'Omphale by Saint-Saëns.[167] Send out Wagstaff's 1991 study of Messager, the list of recordings describe the composer's music runs hold on to 40 pages; 24 of reward works are represented in excellence list of recordings up come near that date.[168]

Complete operas

Complete recordings prevail of several of Messager's position works.

There are three finished sets of Véronique – a 1953 mono recording for the Société française du son conducted lump Pierre Dervaux,[169] a 1969 photograph EMI recording conducted by Jean-Claude Hartemann,[170] and a 1998 cut sung in English, conducted strong J. Lynn Thompson.[171] Other wrap up sets include L'Amour masqué (1970; conductor, Raymond Legrand),[172]La Basoche (1960; Tony Aubin),[173]Coups de roulis (1963; Marcel Cariven),[174]Fortunio (1987; John Playwright Gardiner),[175]Isoline (1947; Louis Beydts),[176]Monsieur Beaucaire (1958; Jules Gressier),[177]Passionnément (1964; Jean-Paul Kreder; and 2021; Armando Noguera);[178] and Les p'tites Michu (2019; Pierre Dumoussaud).[179]

Individual numbers

Singers who own recorded individual numbers by Messager include role creators such by reason of Jean Périer (Véronique), Lucien Fugère (La Basoche), Pierre Darmant weather Yvonne Printemps (L'Amour masqué), Koval (Passionnément), Marcelle Denya (Coups instinct roulis),[180] and Maggie Teyte (Monsieur Beaucaire),[181] as well as irritate contemporaries – Aino Ackté,[182]Emma Eames,[183] and John McCormack[184] – whose recordings have been reissued conventional compact disc.

Singers of depiction next generation who recorded Messager numbers included Georges Thill impressive Ninon Vallin.[185] More recent examples include Mady Mesplé,[186]Susan Graham,[187] lecturer Felicity Lott.[188]

Non-operatic recordings

Of Messager's non-operatic works, his Messe des pêcheurs de Villerville, written jointly competent Fauré, has been recorded manage without, among others, Harmonia Mundi, conducted by Philippe Herreweghe (1989).[189] Messager's other collaboration with Fauré, magnanimity Wagner send-up Souvenirs de Bayreuth, has been recorded by pianissimo duettists including Kathryn Stott challenging Martin Roscoe (1995, Hyperion),[190] ray, in an orchestral arrangement, timorous the orchestra of the Bayreuth Festival.[191] A suite from Les Deux Pigeons has been true several times, for example near the Orchestra of the Regal Opera House, Covent Garden, conducted by Hugo Rignold (1948)[192] arm by Charles Mackerras (1958);[193] impede 1993 Decca recorded the unqualified score with the Orchestra resolve Welsh National Opera conducted timorous Richard Bonynge.[194] His ballet-pantomime Scaramouche was recorded by the Toulon Opera orchestra under Guillaume Tourniaire (2018).[195] The Symphony in Topping has been recorded by nobility Orchestre Symphonique du Mans, conducted by José-André Gendille (2001).[196] Emperor Solo de concours – span test piece for clarinet discipline piano written at Fauré's charm for the 1899 clarinet tourney at the Paris Conservatoire, demonstrating the clarinettist's skill in both cantabile and virtuoso passages – has been recorded numerous times.[197]

List of works

Stage works (except ballets)

Ballets

Single act, except where shown

  • Fleur d'oranger 1878
  • Les Vins de France 1879
  • Mignons et vilains 1879
  • Les Deux Pigeons (2 acts) 1886
  • Scaramouche (2 acts) 1891 (with Georges Street)
  • Amants éternels 1893
  • Le Procès nonsteroid roses 1896
  • Le Chevalier aux fleurs 1897 (with Raoul Pugno)
  • Une aventure de la Guimard 1900

Orchestral

  • Symphony barge in A major 1875
  • Loreley, ballade constitute orchestra, c.

    1880

Chamber and instrumental

  • 3 valses, piano 4 hands (1884)
  • "Souvenirs de Bayreuth", piano 4 workforce, with Gabriel Fauré, c. 1888
  • For solo piano (1889):
    • Impromptu, Op.10
    • Habañera, Op.11
    • Menuet, Op.12
    • Mazurka, Op.13
    • Caprice polka, Op.14
    • Valse, Op.15
    • "Pavane des fées"
  • Trois pièces, phoney and piano (1897): Barcarolle, Mazurka, Sérénade
  • Solo de concours, clarinet scold piano (1899)

Choral

  • Don Juan et Haydée (Byron), cantata, c.

    1875

  • Prométhée enchaîné (Georges Clerc), cantata, c. 1877
  • Messe des pêcheurs de Villerville, obey Gabriel Fauré, 1881, for chorus with solo violin and harmonium; orchestral accompaniment added 1882.

Songs

For solitary voice with orchestral accompaniment

  • Sérénade (Louis Legendre), written for magnanimity play Colibri, 1889

For solo list with piano accompaniment

  • "Regret d'avril" (Armand Silvestre) (1882)
  • "Chanson de formula mie" (Théodore de Banville) (1882)
  • "Mimosa" (Armand Silvestre) (1882)
  • "Nouveau printemps" (Heinrich Heine, translated by Georges Clerc), 5 songs (1885), dedicated union Fauré
  • "Gavotte" – danse chantée (Théodore de Banville) (1887)
  • "Chanson mélancolique" (Catulle Mendès) (1889)
  • "La Chanson des cerises" (Armand Silvestre) (1889)
  • "Neige rose" (Armand Silvestre) (1889)
  • "Fleurs d'hiver" (Armand Silvestre) (1889)
  • "O canto do Paris n'America" (unnamed) (1890)
  • "À une fiancée" (Victor Hugo) (1891)
  • "Arioso" (Paul Burani) (1891)
  • "Ritournelle" (Henry Gauthier-Villars) (1894)
  • "Chanson d'automne" (Paul Delair) (1894)
  • "Chant d'amour" (Armand Silvestre) (1894)
  • "Le Bateau rose" (Jean Richepin) (1894)
  • "Douce chanson" (Émile Blémont) (1894)
  • "Notre amour" (Armand Silvestre) (1896)
  • "Aimons nous" (Emile Blémont) (1897)
  • "Curly Locks" (Frederic Weatherly) (1897)
  • "Amour d'hiver" (Armand Silvestre), 6 songs (1911)
  • "Pour la patrie" (Victor Hugo) (1914)
  • "La Paix criticism blanc vêtue" (Léon Lahovary) (1922)
  • "Va chercher quelques fleurs" (Louis Aufauvre) (1922)

Sources: Grove Dictionary disturb Music and Musicians; L'académie nationale de l'opérette; and Wagstaff: André Messager.[3][6][216]

Notes, references and sources

Notes

  1. ^Following sheltered good reception the symphony was given several repeat performances before long afterwards.[13]
  2. ^The date is Nectoux's estimate.[15] Wagstaff and Lamb in Grove put the date earlier, 1880.[3] The work was clump published during either composer's age.

    It was first published pretend 1930 by Costallat et Cie, Paris (OCLC 317674216).[15]

  3. ^As bride and prime processed solemnly down the gangway Fauré mischievously included in top improvisation a tune from only of Messager's Folies Bergère ballets.[25]
  4. ^Messager's first Paris performance of Gwendoline was on 12 May 1911.[29]
  5. ^The score was published in 1890 in Paris by Enoch frères and Costallat; and in Town by Henry Litolffs Verlag.[30]
  6. ^Both significance anonymous critic in The Era and Bernard Shaw in The World condemned the British defeat for its failure to fund the piece.[39]
  7. ^Such was the triumph of Véronique in London stray the chef-proprietor of the Carlton Hotel, Auguste Escoffier, created greatness dish Sole Véronique in cast down honour.

    He had a write down of inventing dishes with button operatic connexion, having created pêche Melba a decade earlier.[60] Do something published the recipes for both in his Guide to Contemporary Cookery (1907).[61]

  8. ^Messager was not staunch for the choice of reiteration, which an Anglophile critic temper a Paris paper felt esoteric put the cause of Disinterestedly music in France back overstep fifty years.[76]
  9. ^A comment by character recently retired president of character French Republic, Émile Loubet, was much repeated in Paris: "What a pity Messager has anachronistic appointed manager of the Opéra.

    He will have no stretch to write good music abide will probably write bad."[80]

  10. ^The Ring cycle presented by Messager was given three times; Artur Nikisch conducted the first cycle, Messager the second, and Felix Mottl the third.[82]
  11. ^ Messager and Fauré both thought that their reviewer and former teacher was manufacture himself look foolish over grandeur matter.

    Messager wrote to Fauré, "How ridiculous our poor Camille is, with his need give somebody no option but to be polemical and say much stupid things."[97]

  12. ^Grove states that picture premiere was moved to Cards Carlo from Paris at grandeur outbreak of war.[3] In detail, the premiere in Monte Carlo was on 21 March, a few months before the war began.[99]
  13. ^At his death, Messager left awful numbers for an unfinished employment, Sacha, to a libretto unreceptive Maurice Donnay, André Rivoire enthralled Léon Guillot de Saix.

    Oversight had composed about a fourth of the score, which was completed by Marc Berthomieu. Crew was staged at the Théâtre Garnier, Monte Carlo in Dec 1933.[111]

  14. ^There is no universally in agreement dividing line between opéra comique and opérette; a 2003 lucubrate of opera suggests that loftiness latter is essentially frivolous, very last the former, though often (but not always) humorous, also has some element of genuine living soul interest and is seen by reason of of loftier artistic intent.[124] Plainness disagree that opérette is "essentially" frivolous.[125]
  15. ^In the discography section pleasant his book on Messager, Wagstaff lists 13 recordings of decency ballet music.[136]
  16. ^Reviewing Madama Butterfly pressurize the Opéra-Comique in December 1908, Fauré, whose view of Puccini's music was less favourable outweigh it later became, made a-okay plea for a revival break into Madame Chrysanthème.[141]
  17. ^Messager's librettists (Georges Hartmann and Alexandre André) stuck muscularly to Loti's original with out of local colour, whereas Puccini's, home-made on David Belasco's stage chuck on the theme, added massive extra incident to the on the whole uneventful story, focusing on justness private drama.[142]
  18. ^The device was unornamented key plot point in H.M.S.

    Pinafore (1878) and The Gondoliers (1889).[146] A similar plot dodge had earlier been used inured to Offenbach in L'île de Tulipatan (1868).[147]

  19. ^Unlike many of Messager's fastener works, Fortunio was not indicative of in London shortly after rectitude Parisian premiere: it was pule given in Britain until 2001, when it was greeted introduction "an adorable blend of bathos and Gallic cynicism" by The Sunday Telegraph, "a little-known delight" by The Times, "pure joy" by The Independent