Biography Félicien David

félicien david in 1858

in paris in 1830 convinced luigi cherubini, director of conservatoire, enroll him pupil: despite reservations, cherubini recognised talent shown david s choral setting of beatus vir. despite sudden withdrawal of uncle s subsidy, david s studies, fétis , others, continued successfully.

on leaving conservatoire, david caught in saint-simonian movement, became great enthusiast. saint-simonians held music important art, , david wrote music them, including number of hymns. after suppression of movement in 1832, david joined number of adepts visited middle east. proved source of strong inspiration, leading greatest success, symphonic ode le désert of 1844.

returning paris in 1833, wrote number of romances, , instrumental music including 3 symphonies (in f major, e♭ major , c minor, composed in 1837, 1838 , 1849); 1838/39 sufficiently successful able arrange public performances of works. le désert acknowledged public , critics significant force. revue et gazette musicale announced, morning after premiere, great composer has been born amongst . relieve substantial debts, composer sold rights masterpiece relatively small sum.

david in brazilian setting (a reference 1851 opéra comique, la perle du brésil) surrounded comic allusions several of major works, undated theatrical illustration (ca. 1860).

david wrote number of operas, of notable christophe colomb (1847), la perle du brésil (1851), herculanum (1859), , lalla-roukh (1862). amongst oratorios moïse au sinaï ( moses on sinai ) (1846), , eden (1848). david became member of légion d honneur in 1862 , given civil pension. on death of berlioz in 1869, took place in institut de france. died in le pecq (now saint-germain-en-laye) in département yvelines, close paris, in 1876.