Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-11-15
CHaRLES LECOCO.

The author Of ia File de Madame Angot''
bears name that is known all over the world.
that battles analysis. 1t suffices to say that his
works are worthy of the immense vogue that
they enjoy. Not only has he the gift OF catch
ing airs and phrases that at once fix themselves
in the ear, but even his nghteSt compositions
betray the experienced hand OF born musician
and just and rare instinct Of the stage. Charles
Lecocq was born at Paris June 3, 1892. He en-
tered the Conservative and carried Off the first
prize for harmony in Dagfn'S class In 1850 and a
second prize for fugue in Halevys class in 1852
He never competed for the PriX de Rome, an
abstinence OF which few French musicians can
boast. He lived for long time on the heights
ofNOtre Dame de Lorette, and existed by teaching
music. In 1858, Offenbach, who was then mana
ger Of the BouffeslParisiens, had thrown open to
competition the music OF an operetta, in one act,
entitled lie Docteur Miracle Two scores were
found worthy Of being played, that of Bizet, the
future author OF carmen" and that OF Charles
Lecocq. Each of them was represented at the
Boufres II times. The following year he had
piece played at the Folies-Nouvelles. 1t was not
worth much; it was badly received, and its
author, discouraged, gave up the stage for the
name suddenly appeared on the bills at the
Fol1es- Marigny, where he gave whole series Of
operattas, amongst others, lies ondines dc
In 1868 he produced, at the Athen6e, the Bouffes
and the Varieties, Glamour ct son CarquolS,"
lie Radjah de Mysore," Monsieur de Crac,"
'Le Beau DunoiS," and obtained his first Strik-
ing success with ssFleur de The'
Then came the fatal year of 1870, and the war,
and then the Commune. LecOcq, seeing that
the, struggle was prolonged, thought of going
tors, Duru, was at Epinay. He went 10 see him,
and proposed that they should do a piece for
Brussels. Duru, who was somewhat afraid OF
over sick and unable to work, took out of his
portfolio the unfinished manuscript Of ''Les
Cent Vierges," which was finished In 1871 and
played at Brussels March Is, 1872. The success
nj MIG from rfC1 tn Do i6nAt I,o
fate Of 1ecocq. The File de Madame Angot"
made his name known far and wide, In
the old world and the new. He had
only to an continue n the path he had
Petite Mariee, y Ga Marjolaine,n 'Kosik, !" LA
Petit Due" 'La Camargo," ole Grand Cast
mir" ia Petite Mademoiselle" and ia Jolie
PerSane." MIR. LecOcq Is a small man with long
hail now becoming somewhat scant. His mus
tache Is thick, short and black; his eyes spark
ling and lively, and he wears spectacles. An
infirmity prevents him from taking much exer-
else, and ne is little known by sight to the Pa
risian public. He is selfish In this respect that
he takes little interest in anything outside of
the theaters where his works are being played
and success. He gains at the present time at the
Renaissance alone one hundred or one hundred
and twenty thousand francs year, and he.iS
still bound by treaty to write for no other
theater during the next three years. Mr.. Charles
Lecocq lives on the Boulevard Exelmans between
Auteuil and the Bots de Boulogne. Here he has
had built a charming villa Originally he built
house that cost him sixty thousand francs,
then he added wing that cost forty thousand
then he thought he would like some trees and
bought the land adjoining for fifty thousand
francs. The furniture cost another fifty thou
to lay on tie water The arehiteet forgot e
tirely this very necessary liquid. The moral Of
this story is: Never build. Mr.. LecOcq Is not
decorated with the Legion of Honor. His two
hobbies are cats and choice books-[The P1r-