Victorin de Joncières
Encyclopedia
Félix-Ludger Rossignol, known as Victorin de Joncières (12 April 1839 – 26 October 1903) was a French composer
and music critic.
, and his first musical lessons were from aunts. Leaving the Lycée Bonaparte at 16, he decided to study to be a painter, entering the studio of Picot
. However Joncières kept up his musical interest and had a short opéra comique
performed by students of the Conservatoire, and was advised to abandon art and take up music. He entered the Conservatoire de Paris
and followed the classes of Simon Leborne in fugue
and counterpoint
. However, after hearing one of Richard Wagner
’s first concerts in the French capital, he had a disagreement with the professors and in 1860 abandoned his studies to devote himself to composition.
He composed some incidental music for Hamlet
(performed both in Paris and Nantes
) but found little success with two operas produced at the Théâtre Lyrique
: Sardanapale (based on Byron, with Christine Nilsson, 1867) and Les derniers jours de Pompéi (from a novel
by Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1869).
His violin concerto was played at the Conservatoire in 1870 by Jules Danbé
, and a Symphonie romantique at the Concert national in 1873. His opera Dimitri (after Schiller) had more success and was revived in 1890 at the Opéra-Comique.
From 1871 to 1900, he wrote on music for La Liberté (using the pseudonym ‘Jennius’), penning biting criticisms of earlier opéra comique composers and of Berlioz.
Although Joncières presented his candidature for the Institut de France
he was refused. He died in his native city of Paris.
Orchestral music
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
and music critic.
Biography
Son of a political writer and editor of La Patrie and Constitutionel, he was born at ParisParis
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, and his first musical lessons were from aunts. Leaving the Lycée Bonaparte at 16, he decided to study to be a painter, entering the studio of Picot
François-Édouard Picot
François-Edouard Picot was a French painter during the July Monarchy, painting mythological, religious and historical subjects.-Life:Born in Paris, Picot won the Prix de Rome painting scholarship in 1813...
. However Joncières kept up his musical interest and had a short opéra comique
Opéra comique
Opéra comique is a genre of French opera that contains spoken dialogue and arias. It emerged out of the popular opéra comiques en vaudevilles of the Fair Theatres of St Germain and St Laurent , which combined existing popular tunes with spoken sections...
performed by students of the Conservatoire, and was advised to abandon art and take up music. He entered the Conservatoire de Paris
Conservatoire de Paris
The Conservatoire de Paris is a college of music and dance founded in 1795, now situated in the avenue Jean Jaurès in the 19th arrondissement of Paris, France...
and followed the classes of Simon Leborne in fugue
Fugue
In music, a fugue is a compositional technique in two or more voices, built on a subject that is introduced at the beginning in imitation and recurs frequently in the course of the composition....
and counterpoint
Counterpoint
In music, counterpoint is the relationship between two or more voices that are independent in contour and rhythm and are harmonically interdependent . It has been most commonly identified in classical music, developing strongly during the Renaissance and in much of the common practice period,...
. However, after hearing one of Richard Wagner
Richard Wagner
Wilhelm Richard Wagner was a German composer, conductor, theatre director, philosopher, music theorist, poet, essayist and writer primarily known for his operas...
’s first concerts in the French capital, he had a disagreement with the professors and in 1860 abandoned his studies to devote himself to composition.
He composed some incidental music for Hamlet
Hamlet
The Tragical History of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, or more simply Hamlet, is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1599 and 1601...
(performed both in Paris and Nantes
Nantes
Nantes is a city in western France, located on the Loire River, from the Atlantic coast. The city is the 6th largest in France, while its metropolitan area ranks 8th with over 800,000 inhabitants....
) but found little success with two operas produced at the Théâtre Lyrique
Théâtre Lyrique
The Théâtre Lyrique was one of four opera companies performing in Paris during the middle of the 19th century . The company was founded in 1847 as the Opéra-National by the French composer Adolphe Adam and renamed Théâtre Lyrique in 1852...
: Sardanapale (based on Byron, with Christine Nilsson, 1867) and Les derniers jours de Pompéi (from a novel
The Last Days of Pompeii
The Last Days of Pompeii is a novel written by the baron Edward Bulwer-Lytton in 1834. Once a very widely read book and now relatively neglected, it culminates in the cataclysmic destruction of the city of Pompeii by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79.The novel uses its characters to contrast...
by Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1869).
His violin concerto was played at the Conservatoire in 1870 by Jules Danbé
Jules Danbé
Jules Danbé was a French conductor, mainly of opera, born in Caen on 16 November 1840, and died 30 October 1905. Trained as a violinist, he was a pupil of Girard and Savard, in 1859 winning a first prize for violin...
, and a Symphonie romantique at the Concert national in 1873. His opera Dimitri (after Schiller) had more success and was revived in 1890 at the Opéra-Comique.
From 1871 to 1900, he wrote on music for La Liberté (using the pseudonym ‘Jennius’), penning biting criticisms of earlier opéra comique composers and of Berlioz.
Although Joncières presented his candidature for the Institut de France
Institut de France
The Institut de France is a French learned society, grouping five académies, the most famous of which is the Académie française.The institute, located in Paris, manages approximately 1,000 foundations, as well as museums and chateaux open for visit. It also awards prizes and subsidies, which...
he was refused. He died in his native city of Paris.
Works
Stage- Incidental music for Hamlet, 1864
- Sardanapale (words by Henry Becque after Byron), Théâtre LyriqueThéâtre LyriqueThe Théâtre Lyrique was one of four opera companies performing in Paris during the middle of the 19th century . The company was founded in 1847 as the Opéra-National by the French composer Adolphe Adam and renamed Théâtre Lyrique in 1852...
, 8 February 1867 - Les derniers jours de Pompéi , Théâtre Lyrique, 21 September 1869
- Dimitri (words by de Bornier, SilvestrePaul Armand SilvestrePaul-Armand Silvestre , French poet and conteur, was born in Paris.He studied at the École polytechnique with the intention of entering the army, but in 1870 he entered the department of finance. He had a successful official career, was decorated with the Legion of Honour in 1886, and in 1892 was...
and CarvalhoLéon CarvalhoLéon Carvalho was a French impresario and stage director.-Biography:Born Léon Carvaille in Port-Louis, Mauritius, he came to France at an early age...
after Friedrich von Schiller), Théâtre de la GaîtéThéâtre de la Gaîté (rue Papin)In 1862 during Haussmann's modernization of Paris the Théâtre de la Gaîté of the boulevard du Temple was relocated to the rue Papin across from the Square des Arts et Métiers....
, 5 May 1876 - La reine Berthe (words by Jules BarbierJules BarbierPaul Jules Barbier was a French poet, writer and opera librettist who often wrote in collaboration with Michel Carré...
), Opéra de Paris, 27 December 1878 - Le chevalier Jean, (words by GalletLouis GalletLouis Gallet was an inexhaustible French writer of operatic libretti, plays, romances, memoirs, pamphlets, and innumerable articles, who is remembered above all for his adaptations of fiction—and Scripture— to provide librettos of cantatas and opera, notably by composers Georges...
and BlauÉdouard BlauÉdouard Blau, born Blois 30 May 1836, died Paris, 7 January 1906) was a French dramatist and opera librettist. He was a cousin of Alfred Blau, another librettist of the same period....
), Opéra-ComiqueOpéra-ComiqueThe Opéra-Comique is a Parisian opera company, which was founded around 1714 by some of the popular theatres of the Parisian fairs. In 1762 the company was merged with, and for a time took the name of its chief rival the Comédie-Italienne at the Hôtel de Bourgogne, and was also called the...
, 11 March 1885 - Lancelot, (words by Gallet and Blau), Paris Opéra, 7 February 1900
Orchestral music
- Violin Concerto, Paris, 12 December 1869
- Symphonie romantique, Paris, 9 March 1873
- La mer, ode symphonique, 1881