CHARLES-LOUIS THOMAS. - Musician, b. at Metz on 5 Aug. 1811, d. in Paris on 12 Feb. 1896.
Having entered the Paris Conservatory of Music in 1828, he won the first Grand Prize for piano after one year and the Grand Prize for Rome after three. From then until 1836 he studied in Italy (Rome, Naples, Venice, Florence, Bologna, Trieste). Upon completing his studies, he settled in Paris, devoting himself to his art as an outstanding composer. In a short time he wrote a great many works of every kind, but his finest are *Hamlet* and *Mignon*, which moved nearly all of Europe. In 1851 he succeeded Spontini as a member of the Institut de France, and in 1871 Auber as director of the Paris Conservatory. In addition to his many theatrical works, he also produced not only fine choruses and good chamber music, but also excellent sacred music: a Requiem, a Solemn Mass, motets, etc.