The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-10-19


CHARLES FRANCOIS oouNon
Gounod was born In Paris on June II. 1873
His early musical ira ming he received from
his mother. His classical studies were pur
degree OF iacLelie, Is sltres In 1856 The next
year he won the second Ih'ir de home. offered
Stuart ct hsso In sss his
nand." won the Grand Prix. and Gounod went
t. O% The time he at the Na Me-
for the most part. devoted to study Of the old
masters; PARTICULARLY palestrina It has been
cised an influence on his ardent imagination
OF which his whole career bears traces"
o9 and
Ss on tSs MY Ss
at enna isia On Hs A from Ro@e
Germany. and then for, the first time heard OF
Schumann. whose works made such deep
he on hm Later Re 9 tho
ne study of theology, and was q publ oi the
vsloped the love Of reading and literary at
tanments which distinguished him from
not Known WRat he did between s45
and 1850 but It is supposed that he studied
thG works Of Be9s and
in G. for solos. chorus. organ. and orchestra
which gave him his first real appearance be-
ondon on Jan. t. ISL. They H we're widely
discussed in the English newspapers; and one
a The 1p .rs saiI the ultimate
result; here. at any rate. was poet and must
Gounod,s, first operatic production was
II With fe's me the %aaSof IN tHe
Principal part The work was criticised as not
being sufficiently dramatic. although rich in
some passages. The Herdsman's air and the
9aSe a sss's survyed GOuned
the ehoruses for Ponsard's IUlysse." ltwas
TEN pied to produce an antique coorine by
means Of rhythmcal effects and modulations.
but the music was HOMOGENEOUS. and only one
eT%t years. @s aeer 1852 Gouned was conductor
Of the Orph6on and in this time gained much
self and in its effects in large choruses. He
composed several choruses and two masses
and he devoted Ills best Efforts to to the stage
aye;Pet opssra; Ia N?nns sang!apte" founded
ecessor. "Sar,pho." it was a bad failure. being
produced only eleven times. La Nome
Twas S over three y years before Gounod made
another ambitious effort to win public favor.
and hs fTe he Tss n Is pfs
his opera comi1ue. : lie Mtdicin maerS iu,d
comic. As Tor the charming eouplsts
1om whsa nant 81 h TsS d
the ris comico.; A reprodurtion OF the operain
London was fairly successful.
Gounod's fourth attempt was Faust" and
With Its production he stepped at once into the
tss t prod2eea 0 M0t the The
March 10. 1850: with Nine. Nolan Carvalho as
Mgne,1 th!eRnOn thre ,s rS opera
Gyr fH on Fer. 10. is1i. had some charming
passages, but the libretto" had not interest:
FaSst Of cour se: the Academic was again
open to Gopnod. but his "Reine de Saba"
%hs he s nG to thu the Asadsme on
tbs critics OF "MIrells., a ays,act, opera.
which was p59daced At the Thea n I IS
by I merit Yet Sime. Miolan Carvaiho. in tie
ars Of F%n sna times ne Non
Gounod also wrote much church music and
many single songs and PIECES enc Of the N most
OF a ,Marionette." He spent several years, in
England and appeared in public at the Phil
He was elected n member Of the Institut de
France in 1905 and returned to Paris soon
anSsT n pa1 s oR Pc
Grand Opera. Iaris in 1881. and IN the
year vas ms SssFse % the Biz s
mingham Musical Festival. In 1895 HE new
Albert Hall; and later he wrote tho opera
NJ. Gustavc Chouquet. Master OF the Museum
Of tho Conservatoire de Paris. said OF Gounod:
He is a great musician and thorough
master of the orchestra, OF too refined ma
ture to write really comic music. his dramatic
seem to be the work Of one
lowering between mysticism and voluptuous-
ness. This contrast between opposing prin-
ciples may DO traced in all his works, sacred
or dramatic. and gives them an immense in
terest both from mus zeal and from a psyche
logical point Of view. In the chords Of his or
chestra. majestic Ms those Of "a cathedral or
gan. we recognize tho mystic; in his soft and
word. the lyric element predominates In his
work. too often ~ the expense OF variety and
truth"
An article from Paris published In THE Sun
In May last said
The Immortal author OF Faust has been
far from well for some time. He seems to re-
cover from temporary ailments only TO have
relapses; which leave him weaker and more
to fresh attacks and those around
him cannot HELM feeling some anxiety. al
though his indomtable spirit and energetic
emperament affect to make light OF these
warnings"