André Messager Suggest updates
André Charles Prosper Messager.
Born Montluçon, 30 December 1853.
Died Paris, 24 February 1929.
French composer, conductor and administrator.
Career
André Messager had a distinguished career as a conductor, especially of Wagner, and in Paris launched both Charpentier's Louise and Debussy's Pelléas et Mélisande.
Messager was also a successful director at Covent Garden for several years (1901-7).
Works
Messager's compositions are stylishly charming, with an infectious sense of melody and sophisticated orchestration.
La Basoche was chosen by Richard D'Oyly Carte to follow the successful run of Sullivan's Ivanhoe at his Royal English Opera. Mirette, Madame Chrysanthème, Les P'tites Michu and Véronique were all much enjoyed by turn of the century audiences on both sides of the Channel, while Monsieur Beaucaire was successful all over Britain in the twenties.
L'amour masqué was one of the surprise hits of the 2005 Edinburgh Festival - sadly without any kind of later follow-up to exploit its success.
Works produced in Scotland are shown in bold:
01 La Béarnaise (Paris 1885) (Leterrier & Vanloo)
02 La Basoche (Paris 1890) (Carré)
03 Mirette (1891) ()
04 Madame Chrysanthème (Paris 1893) (Hartmann & Alexandre)
05 Les bourgeois de Calais () ()
06 Le Chevalier d’Harmental (1896) ()
07 Les P'tites Michu (Paris 1897) (Vanloo & Duval)
08 Véronique (Paris 1898) (Vanloo & Duval)
09 Les dragons de l’imperatrice (1905) ()
10 Fortunio (Paris 1907) (de Flers & Caillavet)
11 Béatrice (Monte Carlo 1914) (de Flers & de Caillavet)
12 Monsieur Beaucaire (London 1919) (Lonsdale; Ross)
13 La petite fonctionnaire (1921) ()
14 L’amour masqué (Paris 1923) (Guitry)
15 Passionément (Paris 1926) (Willemetz)
16 Coups de roulis (Paris 1928) (Willemetz)
