Charles Gounod

Charles Gounod, born in France in June 1818, was one of the country's best composers of the late nineteenth century. Gounod studied at the Paris Conservatoire, and "after studies with Reicha, Halevy and Le Sueur, he won the Prix de Rome in 1838" (Sadie 1992, II:498).

Gounod developed an interest in 16th century polyphonic music during the period of his Prix de Rome, and while in Rome, Gounod composed a mass and a Requiem. After his interest in religious music declined he began his career as an opera composer.

He was virtually unknown on the Parisian musical scene, but thanks to the influence of mezzo soprano Pauline Viardot, who was favourably impressed by his musical abilities when she first met him in 1849, he received an Opera commission to set Sapho with Emile Augier as librettist. The contract stipulated that Viardot was to assume the title role and the work was to be a two-act curtain raiser. (Sadie 1992, II:498)
Sapho launched Gounod's career as an opera composer, but Faust was his first great opera. Gounod died in 1893 in Paris after completing twelve operas.

The Operas of Gounod

1) Sapho (1851)
2) La nonne sanglante (1854)
3) Le mecidin malgre lui (1858)
4) Faust (1859)
5) Philmon et Baucis (1860)
6) La colombe (1860)
7) La reine de Saba (1862)
8) Mareille (1864)
9) Romeo et Juliette (1867)
10) Cinq Mars (1877)
11) Polyeute (1878)
12) Le tribute de Zamora (1881)