Charles François Gounod (fr. Charles François Gounod; June 17, 1818 - October 18, 1893) - French composer, music critic, memoirist. The founder of the genre of French lyric opera.

On June 17, 1818, a son, Charles Francois, was born in Paris to the family of artist Francois Louis Gounod and music teacher, pianist Victoria. At the age of eleven, the boy was sent to the lyceum. During his studies, Charles sang in the church choir, composed music, and studied music theory. The desire to compose increased especially after visits to the opera house.

In 1838, Gounod entered the Paris Conservatory, which was preceded by the study of harmony and counterpoint with Antonin Reich. Here he studied with Fromanthal Galévy, Jean-Francois Lesuières and Ferdinando Paer, who passed on to him a refined compositional technique. And although the development of Gounod's bright talent was constrained by the academicism that prevailed at the time within the walls of the conservatory, some of his early works attracted the attention of the public and critics. Interesting scherzos from the symphony, three-part "Agnus Dei".

In 1839, Gounod received the Rome Prize for the cantata "Fernan", which gave him the opportunity to spend more than two years as a scholar in Italy and some time in Vienna and Germany. Disillusioned with modern Italian opera, Gounod concentrated on studying ancient cult music, in particular Palestrina.

After returning to Paris, in 1843-1848, Gounod worked as an organist and regent in the Church of Foreign Missions. During his years, he composed only spiritual works. Religious and clerical sentiments strengthened in his worldview, he began to think about a spiritual career and attend the sermons of members of the Dominican order. In 1847-1848, Gounod attended a theology course at the Saint-Sulpice seminary. At one time, he lived in a Carmelite monastery and wore an abbot's cassock. And yet, as a result of a complex internal struggle, he gave up his intention to accept the priesthood and returned to art.

He turns to opera because he believes that only the theater gives the composer the opportunity to communicate with the public every day. The premiere of his first opera - Sappho - took place in 1851. Then there was the opera "The Bloody Nun", staged in 1854. Both works staged at the Grand Opera differ in their unevenness, melodramatics, and even whimsical style. They were not successful.

Gounod and Hebert (1880)

In 1852, Gounod became the director of the Paris Orfeon. This association of choral amateur societies was the most massive musical and educational organization at that time, whose members were mainly workers of Paris and residents of the suburbs.

Nervously reacting to the environment, Gounod easily succumbed to various ideological influences, was unstable like the artist. In 1857, Gounod was on the verge of a serious mental illness, but in the 1860s he worked a lot, productively.

In 1858, the premiere of "The Involuntary Doctor" (based on Moliere) took place. Shown at the Lyric Theater, the opera was received more warmly than the previous ones. The comic plot, the real situation, the liveliness of the characters awakened new sides of Gounod's talent. They appeared in full force in the next work. It was Faust, performed on the stage of the same theater in 1859. The audience did not immediately fall in love with the opera and realized its innovative essence. Only ten years later, she got to the "Grand Opera", and the initial dialogues were replaced by recitatives and ballet scenes were added. In 1887, the 500th performance of "Faust" took place here, and in 1894, its thousandth performance was celebrated.

In 1859, Gounod wrote the Ave Maria motet, the basis for which was the 1st prelude in C major from the collection of the HTK by I. S. Bach. The motet, when it was finally shaped into a complete piece for soprano, orchestra, organ and piano, was an incredible success. And it remains the most popular piece of music, Ave Maria by Bach Gouno.

In the early 1860s, Gounod composed two comic operas - "Philemon and Bavcida" and "The Dove", as well as "The Queen of Sava" (1862) and "Miriel" (1864).

Gounod's last significant artistic achievement is the opera Romeo and Juliet. Its premiere took place in 1867 and was marked by great success - ninety performances took place within two years.

After writing a number of unsuccessful operas (including "Polyevkt", 1878), he moved away from musical theater, preferring spiritual music. Among his last great works are two oratorios: "Atonement" (1881), "Death and Life" (1884). At this time, Gounod was engaged in literary and critical activities.

Gounod spent the last years of his life in Saint-Cloud near Paris, studying with the young composer A. Busse.

Charles Gounod died on October 18, 1893 in Saint-Cloud. Buried at the Paris Otoy cemetery.