Charles Gounod

Charles François Gounod (June 17, 1818 – October 18, 1893) was a French composer, best known for his opera Faust.

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Gounod was born in Paris, the son of a pianist mother and a draftsman father. His mother was his first piano teacher, under her tutelage Gounod first showed his musical talents. He entered the Paris Conservatoire where he studied under Fromental Hal?vy.

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He won the Prix de Rome in 1839 for his cantata Ferdinand.

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He subsequently went to Italy where he studied the music of Palestrina.

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Gounod wrote his first opera, Sapho, in 1851, but had no great success until Faust (1859), based on the play by Goethe.

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This remains his best-known work, although the opera Rom?o et Juliette (based on the Shakespeare play), premiered in 1867, is also performed and recorded regularly.

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From 1870 to 1875 Gounod lived in England, becoming the first conductor of what is now the Royal Choral Society. Much of Gounod's music from this time is vocal or choral in nature.

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Later in his life, Gounod wrote mainly religious music, including a musical setting of Ave Maria, which was based on the first prelude from Book I of the Well-Tempered Clavier by J.S. Bach.

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Gounod died in 1893 in Saint-Cloud in France.

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Gounod's Funeral March of a Marionette was used as the theme music for Alfred Hitchcock Presents.

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June 17: June 17 is the 168th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (169th in leap years), with 197 days remaining....

1818: 1818 is a common year starting on Thursday....

October 18: October 18 is the 291st day of the year (292nd in Leap years). There are 74 days remaining....

Charles Gounod related Images and Photos (experimental)

Charles Gounod French Musician and Composer	Charles Gounod French Musician and Composer Depicted Composing His Opera Faust	Charles V	Charles II
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