GOUNOD, CHARLES. — Musician, born in Paris on 17 June 1818, died at St-Cloud on 17 October 1893. Of precocious talent, he studied music, literature, and philosophy. Winner of the Grand prix de Rome, he was in Rome in 1840 and 1841, where he was captivated by Palestrina’s polyphonic performances, so much so that he himself composed a Mass, later performed with success, which earned him the appointment as maestro di cappella at S. Luigi dei Francesi.
He then went to Vicenza and Leipzig. Returning to Paris, he embarked on a brilliant operatic career. He wrote numerous operas that met with varying fortunes, among them *Faust*, a true masterpiece. He composed much sacred music: the oratorios *Tobias*, *Jésus sur le lac de Tibériade* (1882), *La Rédemption* (1883), *Mors et vita*, four solemn Masses, motets, a *Stabat*, a Requiem, and the famous *Ave Maria* adapted to Bach’s Prelude.
A man of austere, noble, and deeply religious character (he had been educated in a seminary as a young man), he imprinted his personality on his art, where sentiment and sweetness play a large part. His instrumental music is refined and robust, though often dominated by the search for effect.
