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Adolphe Adam




Adolphe Charles Adam ( July 24 , 1803May 3 , 1856 ) was a French Composer and music critic. He is best known today for his ballets '' Giselle '' and '' Le Corsaire ''.

Adam was born in Paris where his father Louis Adam ( 1758 - 1848 ) (born Johann Ludwig Adam in Muttersholtz, Alsace ), a Pianist and composer was professor at the Paris Conservatoire . His mother was the daughter of a physician. As a child, Adolphe Adam preferred to improvise music of his own rather than study music seriously. He entered the Paris Conservatoire in 1821 where he studied organ and harmonium under François-Adrien Boieldieu . However, he did not win the Grand Prix de Rome and his father did not encourage him to pursue a music as a career.

By the time he was 20, he was writing songs for Paris vaudeville houses and playing in the orchestra at the Gymnasie Dramatique, where he later became chorus master. Like many other French composers, he made a living largely by playing the organ.

In 1825 , he helped Boieldieu prepare parts for '' La Dame Blanche '' and made a piano reduction of the score. He was able to travel through Europe with the money he made, and he met Eugène Scribe , with whom he was later to collaborate, in Geneva . By 1830 , he had completed 28 theater works.

Adam is probably best remembered for the Ballet '' Giselle '' ( 1841 ). He wrote several other ballets and 39 Opera s, including '' Le Postillon De Lonjumeau '' ( 1836 ) and '' Si J'étais Roi '' ( 1852 ).

After quarreling with the director of the Opéra, Adam invested his money and borrowed heavily to open a third opera house in Paris: the Théâtre National . It opened in 1847 , but had to be closed because of the Revolution Of 1848 , leaving Adam with overwhelming debts. He briefly turned to journalism to try to extricate himself. From 1849 to his death, he taught composition at the Paris Conservatoire .

His Christmas carol "Cantique de Noël", often known by its English title ". (From the obituary, May 4, 1856, in "La France Musicale": "Les obsèques de M. Adolphe Adam auront lieu lundi 5 mai, à 11 heures, en l'église de Notre-Dame-de-Lorette, sa paroisse." "The funeral of Mr. Adolphe Adam will take place Monday, May 5, in the church of Notre-Dame-de-Lorette, his parish." And from the report of his funeral, in the May 11 issue: "Après la cérémonie religieuse,...." "After the religious ceremony,...." See the reproduction at {Link without Title} .)

He died in Paris and was buried in the Montmartre Cemetery .


MAIN WORKS


  • Ballets :

  • La chatte blanche

    Faust

    La fille du Danube

    Les Mohicans

    L'écumeur des mers

    Les Hamadryades

    Giselle ou Les willis

    La jolie fille de Gand

    Le diable à quatre

    La fille de marbre

    Griseldis ou Les cinq sens

    Le filleule des fées

    Orfa



    • Operas :

    • Le mal du pays ou La bâtelière de Brientz

      Le jeune propriétaire et le vieux fermier

      Pierre et Catherine

      Danilowa

      Les trois Catherine

      Trois jours en une heure

      Joséphine ou Le retour de Wagram

      Le morceau d'ensemble

      Le grand prix ou Le voyage à frais communs

      Casimir ou Le premier tête-à-tête

      His First Campaign

      The Dark Diamond

      Le proscrit ou Le tribunal

      Une bonne fortune

      Le chalet

      La marquise

      Micheline ou L'Heure de l'esprit


      Le fidèle berger

      Le brasseur de Preston

      Régine ou Les deux nuits

      La reine d'un jour

      La rose de Péronne

      La main de fer ou Un mariage secret

      Le roi d'Yvetôt

      Lambert Simnel

      Cagliostro

      Richard en Palestine

      La bouquetière

      Les premiers pas ou Les deux génies ou Les mémoires de la blanchisseuse

      Le toréador ou L'accord parfait

      Le fanal

      Giralda ou La nouvelle psyché

      Le farfadet

      La poupée de Nuremberg


      Le sourd ou L'auberge pleine

      Le roi des halles

      Le bijou perdu

      Le muletier de Tolède

      À Clichy, épisode de la vie d'un artiste

      Mam'zelle Geneviève

      Falstaff

      Les pantins de Violette