Jules Massenet (1942-1912). French composer
Jules Massenet was a French Romantic composer who specialised in operas, the most famous of which include Manon (1884) and Werther (1892). He studied at the Paris Conservatoire, and began teaching piano and composing before he was commissioned to write his first opera, La Grand’tante in 1867. This was followed by Don César de Bazan in 1872, and a year later his first great success, the oratorio Marie-Magdeleine. He wrote over 40 operas, demonstrating his skill in portraying character and complex emotions through music. This can also be seen in his works for ballet, including Le Carillon (1892), La Cigale (1904), and Espada (1908). However, Massenet’s most renowned work for ballet is Kenneth MacMillan’s Manon (1974). Rather than using the music from Massenet’s opera Manon, Leighton Lucas and Hilda Gaunt drew their arrangement from his collected works.