Jules Émile Frédéric Massenet (May 12, 1842 – August 13, 1912) was a French… Read Full Bio ↴Jules Émile Frédéric Massenet (May 12, 1842 – August 13, 1912) was a French composer from Montaud, France, who was best known for his operas.
His compositions were very popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and he ranks as one of the greatest melodists of his era. Soon after his death, Massenet's style went out of fashion, and many of his operas fell into almost total oblivion. Apart from Manon and Werther, his works were rarely performed. However, since the mid-1970s, many operas of his such as Thaïs and Esclarmonde have undergone periodic revivals.
Massenet's operas shared the opera vogue of nineteenth century France with Wagner's, their direct opposite. Massenet's twenty-five were of the Meyerbeer-Offenbach type, that is, light and popular, rather than "grand". Some of them helped to ensure the success of Oscar Hammerstein's opera experiment in New York. Manon is a typical Massenet opera. Its immediate appeal is strong, thanks to its extremely singable melodies.
Massenet wrote operas with one eye on the prima donna who was to sing them. This habit was not discouraged by his wife, who knew that prima donnas were his bread and butter. She encouraged him to send them operas rather than pearl necklaces.
He studied under Ambroise Thomas at the Conservatoire, and traveled his full three years as a Prix de Rome winner, making the acquaintance of the ubiquitous Liszt while in Rome. He returned to Paris in time to shoulder a gun during the siege of 1870 in the Franco-Prussian War. He then settled down to teaching counterpoint at the Conservatoire, writing operas, and enjoying the footlight existence of the opera composer. His personal charm and the style of the particular kind of operas he wrote, at the particular time he wrote them, brought him wide popularity. When he died in his apartment in Paris, there were many more than the bereft prima donnas to mourn his loss.
His compositions were very popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and he ranks as one of the greatest melodists of his era. Soon after his death, Massenet's style went out of fashion, and many of his operas fell into almost total oblivion. Apart from Manon and Werther, his works were rarely performed. However, since the mid-1970s, many operas of his such as Thaïs and Esclarmonde have undergone periodic revivals.
Massenet's operas shared the opera vogue of nineteenth century France with Wagner's, their direct opposite. Massenet's twenty-five were of the Meyerbeer-Offenbach type, that is, light and popular, rather than "grand". Some of them helped to ensure the success of Oscar Hammerstein's opera experiment in New York. Manon is a typical Massenet opera. Its immediate appeal is strong, thanks to its extremely singable melodies.
Massenet wrote operas with one eye on the prima donna who was to sing them. This habit was not discouraged by his wife, who knew that prima donnas were his bread and butter. She encouraged him to send them operas rather than pearl necklaces.
He studied under Ambroise Thomas at the Conservatoire, and traveled his full three years as a Prix de Rome winner, making the acquaintance of the ubiquitous Liszt while in Rome. He returned to Paris in time to shoulder a gun during the siege of 1870 in the Franco-Prussian War. He then settled down to teaching counterpoint at the Conservatoire, writing operas, and enjoying the footlight existence of the opera composer. His personal charm and the style of the particular kind of operas he wrote, at the particular time he wrote them, brought him wide popularity. When he died in his apartment in Paris, there were many more than the bereft prima donnas to mourn his loss.
Méditation de Thaïs
Jules Massenet Lyrics
We have lyrics for these tracks by Jules Massenet:
Meditation from Thais THAIS (Newman Levy) One time in Alexandria, in wicked Alexa…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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@pnojazz
Bio -
Rusanda Panfili was born 1988 in Chisinau, Moldova. She started
her violin studies in Bucharest, and the age of 11 she became one
of the youngest students at the Conservatory of Music and Arts in
Vienna, Austria.
She won her first international competition in Italy at the age of 10
and with the wonderful guidance from her teacher, well known
Russian violinist, Alexander Arenkow, Rusanda earned other
numerous national and international prizes such as “Rodolfo
Lipizer” and “Luis Spohr”, as well the “Herbert von Karajan” and
“Yamaha” scholarships.
In November, 2015, Rusanda finished her “Master of Arts” studies
at the University of Music and Arts Vienna.
@ellenmunger6447
This beautiful piece was often played by my father who was a violin player, He played this at all three of our( daughters) weddings. I surprised my dad and played it for mom and dads 50th wedding anniversary on my flute. Now that dad is gone, when I do play it or just hear others playing it, I cry alot. It is sooo beautiful!
@DGStudio
And now, me :)
@manlungl
Such beautiful legacy.
@bigdaddyjoe26
I agree
like if u agree
@beebo5256
So inspiring to hear this from a fellow musician ❤️I'm a 13 year old violinist playing this, you passion is beautiful
@BambangHariyanto
https://youtu.be/cy7JVx3QkZs
@hanrolavh4546
When I was a boy in a small Asian country, at age 10 years, this piece of music was featured at the end of a radio drama series. I did not know the name of this piece. But I liked it so much I would listen until the very end every night. Now, at age 65, I finally know the name of the composition. Brings back lots of nostalgic moments.
@lbminh
That's amazing!!!
@MrDaiseymay
I am now 81, and I too have many such musical memories, of listening to the BBC radio in the 1950's onwards, when such music had it's own slot on certain stations, and a huge following.
@EricLeePiano
one of the most satisfying moments in life is finally finding the name of a favorite piece of music :)