Adolphe-Charles Adam (1803-1856)
- Le farfadet (1852)
Performers: Janine Capderou (1932-1993, mezzosoprano); Lina Dachary
(1922-1999, soprano);
Joseph Peyron (1912-1976, tenor); Bernard Plantey
(1925-1998, baritone); Bernard Demigny (baritone);
Orcheste Lyrique de L'ORTF; Robert Benedetti (conductor)
Further info: Adam: Le Chalet / Le Farfadet
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French composer. His father Jean Louis Adam (1758-1848) was a pianist,
composer and teacher. Adolphe Adam was not encouraged by his father to
become a musician but, influenced by his friendship with Ferdinand
Hérold, he decided at an early age that he wished to compose, and
specifically, theatre music. He first studied the piano with Henry
Lemoine, and at 17 entered the Conservatoire, where he studied the organ
with François Benoist, counterpoint with Anton Reicha and composition
with François-Adrien Boieldieu, the chief architect of his musical
development. In 1825 he won a 2nd prize in the Prix de Rome with his
cantata 'Ariane a Naxos'. His first successful stage score was the
opera-comique 'Pierre et Catherine' (1829). He achieved his first great
success with his opera-comique 'Le chalet' (1834). It was followed by
the even more successful opera-comique 'Le postillon de Lonjumeau'
(1836). His most celebrated score, the ballet 'Giselle, ou Les Wilis'
(1841), has remained a repertory staple for over 150 years. In 1844 he
was made a member of the Institut de France. He founded the
Opera-National in Paris in 1847, which was forced to close as a result
of the revolutionary events of 1848. He was left bankrupt and was forced
to take up music journalism to eke out a living. In 1849 he obtained
the post of professor of composition at the Paris Conservatoire which he
held until his death. The opera comique 'Si j'etais roi' (1852) proved
one of his finest late works. His operetta 'Les pantins de Violette' was
premiered at the Paris Bouffes-Parisiens on 29 April 1856, just 4 days
before his death. As a composer, he was mainly praised by his over than
80 stage works but he also left several cantates and masses, more than
65 songs, and over 200 light works such as potpourris and fantasias on
operatic airs or melodies.
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