Gustave Chouquet

“ Many an impresario looked to making a fortune by this Italian theatre, and among those who made the attempt we may mention Lumley, Calzado, Bagier, and Strakosch. The list of distinguished singers heard here during twenty years of more or less continuous prosperity embraces the great artists of that time almost without exception. Besides the old répertoire, these artists introduced to the Paris world all Verdi's operas, the favourite works of Mercadante, Donizetti, and other modern masters, and a few complete novelties. ”

“ Antoine, his junior by four years, was also born at Avignon, and educated at the Maitrise, but forsook ecclesiastical plainsong for stage ariettas. Having appeared with success as a comedy-tenor in several provincial towns, he went to Paris in 1764, and there quickly rose into favour as a singer of considerable musical attainments, and an actor possessing real wit and originality. For 30 years composers eagerly vied with each other in writing parts for him, and he left permanent traces at the Opéra Comique, where the comedy-tenor part is still called by his name. ”

“ Some circumstance led him to Pans, and in 1816 he entered Choron's school, and studied singing there at the same time with Duprez. He never became a good singer, and after taking a secondary part in Rossini's 'Il Viaggio a Reims' left the boards, returned to Choron's school, and there picked up a slender knowledge of music. After the revolution of 1830 he played second clarinet in a military band. Returning to Paris he made his way into society, set up as a teacher of singing, and a composer of romances, one of which, 'Le fil de la Vierge,' was very successful. ”

“ In this opera Sarti endeavoured to imitate the music of the ancient Greeks, and made use of some of their modes. A skilled mathematician and physicist, he was fond of explaining to the Empress his theories of acoustics, which he illustrated by many ingenious experiments. ”

“ Among other artistic tournées he came several times to England after 1844, and was a great favourite in London for his drollery as much as his music. As a practical joker he had no equal, and good stories might be told of him enough to fill a volume. ”

“ VOGT, Gustave, French oboe-player, born at Strassburg, March 18, 1781, studied at the Paris Conservatoire under Sallantin, and took the first oboe-prize in 1799. While in Rey's class, he began to play in public, and was appointed oboe-solo at the Opéra Italien in 1801, and co-professor at the Conservatoire in 1802. In 1805 he entered the band of the Imperial Guard, was present at Austerlitz, and during the occupation of Vienna made the acquaintance of Haydn and Beethoven. ”

“ Like Dugazon, Antoine Trial embraced with fervour the doctrines of the Revolution, and on the fall of Robespierre was constrained by the mob to atone for his previous exploits by singing the 'Réveil du Peuple' on his knees. ”

“ SALVAYRE, Gervais Bernard, called Gaston, born at Toulouse, Haute-Garonne, June 24, 1847, began his musical education at the maîtrise of the cathedral, and afterwards studied at the conservatoire of the town, before he was brought by Ambroise Thomas to the Paris Conservatoire, where he studied the organ with Benoist, and composition and fugue with Thomas and Bazin. He gained the first prize for organ in 1868, and competed for the Prix de Rome every year from 1867 to 1872, gaining it at last by sheer force of perseverance. ”

“ Unfortunately he became a mere music-publisher's hack, and amateur pianists are familiar with his mosaïques, fantaisies, etc., for two and four hands, with such titles as 'Beautés de l'Opéra,' etc. This journey-work did not even pay, and it was in something like poverty that he died at Brussels, March 19, 1884. So brilliant and agreeable a talker deserved a better fate. ”

“ THOINAN, Ernest, the nom de plume of Ernest Roquet, a distinguished amateur and collector of works on music. From collecting he advanced to writing, first as a contributor to 'La France musicale,' 'Art musical,' and others. ”

“ The first time she displayed her powers was when acting with A. Nourrit as Rachel in 'La Juive' at Brussels in 1836. She re-appeared in the part at the Opéra in Paris, Aug. 25, 1837. Though inferior to Mlle. Falcon, who had created the rôle, the public was interested by a talent so original and full of fire, though so unequal, and Mme. Stoltz became a favourite from the day she appeared in parts written expressly for her. Indeed throughout Léon Pillet's management (1841 to 47) she reigned without a rival. ”

“ In this work—revived at Lille, April 1881, with enthusiastic applause—there is much colour and expression, and great charm, indeed all Semet's works contain real gems of melody and harmony. Their drawback is their difficulty. ”

“ The piece was transformed from an opera comique into a spectacular drama, and had an immense success, partly owing to the singing of Bouhy the baritone, and Heilbron the prima donna. It has since been performed at several theatres of importance both in France and elsewhere. 'Le Fandango,' a one-act ballet (Opéra, Nov. 26, 1877) , was less fortunate. So far M. Salvayre's gift seems rather for stage and dramatic music than for light comedy, or more poetical conceptions. ”

“ So quickly did his fame spread that when he was only 24 the King of Denmark (Frederic V.) invited him to Copenhagen as Capellmeister to the Prince Royal, and director of the Italian opera; and, on the closing of the latter in two years, made him Court-capellmeister. In the summer of 1765 the king determined to reopen the opera, and Sarti went back to Italy after an absence of twelve years to engage singers; but his plans were upset by the deaths first of the king in 1766, and then of his own mother in 1767, so that it was not till 1768 that he returned to Copenhagen. ”

“ In 1793 the Empress restored him completely to favour, and placed him at the head of a Conservatoire planned after the model of those in Italy. After her death and that of her son Paul I., Sarti determined to revisit his native land, and in the spring of 1802 left Russia, where he had lived for 18 years without a break. ”

“ The work he has done there—daily increasing in importance—has been already described. [See Conservatoire, vol. i. 393.] A post of this nature leaves scant leisure for other employment, and during the last twelve years M. Thomas has composed nothing beyond the solfeggios and exercises for the examinations, except one opera 'Françoise de Rimini' (April 14, 1882) , the prologue and fourth act of which are entitled to rank with his 'Hamlet.'
The musical career of Ambroise Thomas may be divided into three distinct periods. ”

“ The second began with the opéra bouffe 'Le Cald,' the refined wit of which was a protest against the hackneyed phrases and forced declamation of the Italian school, and continuing with 'Le Songe d'une Nuit d'été,' 'Raymond,' and 'Psyché,' all works novel in form, and poetic in idea, ended in 1861. ”

“ Man being, according to Diderot, a mass of contradictions, Vivier, who thoroughly appreciates family life, and is an excellent son, lives alone with no companion but a pigeon! His friends, however, have still attractions for him, and this cause has induced him during the last few years to spend the winter at Nice. ”

“ The theatre reopened June 10, 1834, as the Théâtre Nautique, with 'real water' on the stage. The Théâtre Nautique came to an end early in 1835, and the Théâtre Ventadour was resuscitated (Jan. 30, 1838) for an Italian company cast adrift by the burning of the Salle Favart, and comprising Rubini and Zamboni, Lablache, Tamburini, Morelli, Grisi, Persiani and Albertazzi ”

“ As a skilled musician, and man of polished manners, he made friends, and became the pet composer of certain amateur circles. His first publication was 22 songs, of which a 'Simple Chanson' had a well-earned success. His chamber music—two string-quartets, some sonatas for PF. and violin, and one for viola, and two suites for PF.—is well constructed, with ideas at once ingenious and refined, qualities which also form the leading features of a 3-act Opéra-Comique 'La Bataille d'Amour' (April 13, 1863) , and a scena with chorus, 'La Mort de Diane,' sung by Mme. ”

“ Albert, and proving himself the first flute-player in the world. Drouet himself acknowledged the superiority of a rival whose style was so pure, whose intonation was so perfect, and who drew so excellent a tone from his 4-keyed wooden flute. Very popular in society, both on account of his talent, and for his inexhaustible spirits, Tulou was prompt at repartee, and had a fund of sarcastic humour which he uttered freely on anything he disliked. ”

“ Among these Roman works were a 'Stabat Mater'; an orchestral piece, 'Les Bacchantes'; the 113th Psalm for orchestra, solos and chorus; and an oratorio, 'Le Jugement dernier,' which he subsequently remodelled, and produced at the Châtelet concerts as 'La Résurrection' (1876) . ”

“ To complete the list, at least ten more operas and several cantatas on a large scale should be added, works for the cathedral choir, including several masses, a Miserere à 4, and some important motets. ”

“ In spite of this happy commencement the theatre was destined to frequent collapses, and after two years of vicissitudes the company were obliged to move to the Théâtre des Nouveautés in the Place de la Bourse, where they performed for the first time Sept. ”