Alexandre Clément Léon Joseph Luigini (9 March 1850 – 29 July 1906) was a French composer and conductor, especially active in the opera house.[1] As a composer, he is now remembered almost solely for his Ballet égyptien.
Luigini was born in Lyon in 1850. His grandparents had moved to Lyon from Modena, Italy, when his grandfather took up the post of trumpeter with the orchestra of the Grand Théâtre. Alexandre Luigini was brought up with music, his father Joseph also playing with, and later conducting, the orchestra of the Grand Théâtre. He was the nephew of César and (another) Alexandre Luigini, both noted instrumentalists.[2] His daughter was the harpist Caroline Luigini, who married the painter Victor Tardieu. His grandson is the poet Jean Tardieu.
After studying at the Conservatoire in Paris where he gained a second prize for violin, Luigini returned to Lyon and from 1872 played as a violinist in the theatre orchestra, which he went on to lead, becoming conductor in 1877.[1] As resident conductor he was also expected to meet the compositional demands of the theatre, leading to a number of ballets, operas and orchestral suites. In 1879 he was appointed professor of harmony and composition at the Conservatory of Lyon.[3]
In 1897 he left Lyon to take up the conductorship of the Opéra-Comique in Paris, and led a busy life until his sudden death there in 1906. At the Opéra-Comique he notably conducted the world premiere of Jules Massenet's Cendrillon on 24 May 1899. The other premieres he conducted were Aphrodite 1906, Enfant roi 1905, Le Juif polonais 1900, Miarka 1905, Muguette 1903, and L'Ouragan 1901. He also supervised revivals of Alceste, Falstaff, Fidelio, Le Roi d’Ys and The Flying Dutchman, among others. Paris premieres conducted by Luigini included Chérubin, Hélène, Le jongleur de Notre-Dame and the first staging of Marie-Madeleine.[4]
As a theatre conductor he followed the old practice of having his conductor’s stand directly against the prompt box.[4]
Luigini's Ballet égyptien (1875) is his best known work, gaining great popularity in the early 20th century as a concert suite. It originally gained prominence when it was included in the second act of Verdi'sAida for a performance in Lyon in 1886.
His compositions reflect his stage-orchestra background, being mostly light music for ballet and operas: Ange et démon, Le Rêve de Nicette, Les Caprices de Margot (one-act opéra comique, Lyon, 1877), Reine des fleurs, Fleurs et papillons, Les Écharpes, Le Meunier, Arlequin écolier, Faublas (three-act operetta, Théâtre Cluny, Paris, 1881).[2] He also composed a number of songs and works for string quartet and other chamber groups.
References
^ abCharton D. Alexandre Luigini. In: The New Grove Dictionary of Opera. Macmillan, London and New York, 1997.
^Blondel (May 22, 1898). "Profiles de Compositeurs français I Alexandre Luigini". Le Monde artiste (in French). Paris, France: Imprimerie de la Cour d'appel: 323–27.
^ abWolff, Stéphane. Un demi-siècle d'Opéra-Comique 1900–1950. André Bonne, Paris, 1953.
alexandre, luigini, alexandre, clément, léon, joseph, luigini, march, 1850, july, 1906, french, composer, conductor, especially, active, opera, house, composer, remembered, almost, solely, ballet, égyptien, 1880, nadar, bibliothèque, nationale, francelife, car. Alexandre Clement Leon Joseph Luigini 9 March 1850 29 July 1906 was a French composer and conductor especially active in the opera house 1 As a composer he is now remembered almost solely for his Ballet egyptien Alexandre Luigini ca 1880 by Nadar Bibliotheque nationale de FranceLife and career EditLuigini was born in Lyon in 1850 His grandparents had moved to Lyon from Modena Italy when his grandfather took up the post of trumpeter with the orchestra of the Grand Theatre Alexandre Luigini was brought up with music his father Joseph also playing with and later conducting the orchestra of the Grand Theatre He was the nephew of Cesar and another Alexandre Luigini both noted instrumentalists 2 His daughter was the harpist Caroline Luigini who married the painter Victor Tardieu His grandson is the poet Jean Tardieu After studying at the Conservatoire in Paris where he gained a second prize for violin Luigini returned to Lyon and from 1872 played as a violinist in the theatre orchestra which he went on to lead becoming conductor in 1877 1 As resident conductor he was also expected to meet the compositional demands of the theatre leading to a number of ballets operas and orchestral suites In 1879 he was appointed professor of harmony and composition at the Conservatory of Lyon 3 In 1897 he left Lyon to take up the conductorship of the Opera Comique in Paris and led a busy life until his sudden death there in 1906 At the Opera Comique he notably conducted the world premiere of Jules Massenet s Cendrillon on 24 May 1899 The other premieres he conducted were Aphrodite 1906 Enfant roi 1905 Le Juif polonais 1900 Miarka 1905 Muguette 1903 and L Ouragan 1901 He also supervised revivals of Alceste Falstaff Fidelio Le Roi d Ys and The Flying Dutchman among others Paris premieres conducted by Luigini included Cherubin Helene Le jongleur de Notre Dame and the first staging of Marie Madeleine 4 As a theatre conductor he followed the old practice of having his conductor s stand directly against the prompt box 4 Luigini s Ballet egyptien 1875 is his best known work gaining great popularity in the early 20th century as a concert suite It originally gained prominence when it was included in the second act of Verdi s Aida for a performance in Lyon in 1886 His compositions reflect his stage orchestra background being mostly light music for ballet and operas Ange et demon Le Reve de Nicette Les Caprices de Margot one act opera comique Lyon 1877 Reine des fleurs Fleurs et papillons Les Echarpes Le Meunier Arlequin ecolier Faublas three act operetta Theatre Cluny Paris 1881 2 He also composed a number of songs and works for string quartet and other chamber groups References Edit a b Charton D Alexandre Luigini In The New Grove Dictionary of Opera Macmillan London and New York 1997 a b Carre s funeral oration quoted in Stoullig E Les Annales du Theatre et de la Musique 32eme edition 1906 G Charpentier et Cie Paris 1907 pp109 110 Blondel May 22 1898 Profiles de Compositeurs francais I Alexandre Luigini Le Monde artiste in French Paris France Imprimerie de la Cour d appel 323 27 a b Wolff Stephane Un demi siecle d Opera Comique 1900 1950 Andre Bonne Paris 1953 External links EditWorks by or about Alexandre Luigini at Internet Archive Free scores by Alexandre Luigini at the International Music Score Library Project IMSLP Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Alexandre Luigini amp oldid 1101223095, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
