Klaus Döring's Classical Music/Klaus Döring's Klassische Musik

Charles Gounod (1818-1893), France "Faust", Act II: Waltz Wiener Philharmoniker Rudolf Kempe

by Georg Predota, Interlude “Before Mozart, all musical ambition turns to despair” Charles Gounod was born 200 years ago, on 17 June 1818 in Paris. Today we primarily remember him as the composer of the opera  Faust  and an  Ave Maria  descant to the first prelude of J.S. Bach’s C-major prelude from the  WTC . Yet, during the second half of the 19th century, he was one of the most respected and prolific composers in France. His musical influence on the course of French music was highly significant, but in the fractured post-Wagnerian critical climate towards the end of his life, his reputation took a severe hit. Son of a painter and engraver of considerable talent, Charles exhibited enormous talents in music and the fine arts. Pressured into studying law, Charles decided at age 16 to devote himself to music. Private lessons in counterpoint and harmony with Antoine Reicha prepared Charles for his enrollment at the Paris Conservatoire. Fully devoted to composition...