Composer, born Paris, France, 1818; died there, 1893. After studies at the Lycee Saint Louis and the Conservatoire, he won in 1839 the Grand Prix de Rome with his cantata "Fernand." He passed three years in Rome. After visiting Vienna, 1842, he became choirmaster at the Missions Etrangeres in Paris, and pursued theological studies at Saint Sulpice but, abandoning his intention to take orders, turned to the operatic field where his name is linked with "Faust," 1859, and "Romeo et Juliette," 1861, which occupy the lyric stage today. Returning from a five years sojourn in London, 1870-1875, he devoted his last years to religious music, composing several masses and "'The Redemption" oratorio, which he considered the great work of his life.
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