ON THIS DAY

French Composer Jules Massenet Died in 1912, Aged 70

August 13, 2024

2 MIN READ

Massenet's major contribution to the violin repertoire is his popular symphonic intermezzo Meditation from 'Thais'

Born in 1842 in Montaud, France, Jules Massenet was accepted into the Paris Conservatoire at the age of 11, studying with composer Ambroise Thomas, whom he greatly admired. In 1863, Massenet won the country's top musical prize, the Prix de Rome, with his cantata David Rizzio.

The prize provided Massenet with a well-subsidized three-year period of study, during which he attended the French Academy in Rome and the St. Peter's Basilica, where he met pianist Franz Liszt.

Massenet composed prolifically in many genres, but quickly became known for his operas. His signature works include the operas Manon, Werther, and Esclarmonde. By the 19th and early 20th centuries, he ranked as one of the greatest melodists of that period.

Additionally, his major contribution to the violin repertoire is his popular symphonic intermezzo "Meditation" from Thais.

Like many prominent French composers of that time, Massenet went on to accept a teaching position at the Paris Conservatoire, where he taught composition from 1878 until 1896. Among his students were Gustave Charpentier, Ernest Chausson, Reynaldo Hahn, and Gabriel Pierné. Massenet resigned from the role after the death of the school's director at the time — his former teacher Ambroise Thomas.

Massenet died in Paris at the age of 70, after a long battle with cancer.

Following his death, his compositions started to gain the reputation of being old-fashioned. Apart from Manon and Werther, his works were rarely performed until the 1970s, when many of his operas such as Esclarmonde experienced a periodic revival.

While critics seldom include Massenet among the handful of operatic giants such as Mozart, Verdi and Wagner, his operas are widely accepted today as well-crafted and intelligent products of the Belle Époque period.