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Charles Gounod
Charles-François Gounod, born on June 17, 1818, in Paris, was a prominent French composer known for his operas, particularly "Faust" (1859) and "Roméo et Juliette" (1867). He was born into an artistic family; his father was a painter and his mother a pianist who provided his early musical training. Gounod attended the Lycée Saint-Louis and later studied music under Anton Reicha, Fromental Halévy, and Jean-François Lesueur at the Paris Conservatoire. He won the prestigious Prix de Rome in 1839 with his cantata "Fernand," which allowed him to study in Rome, where he was influenced by the music of Palestrina.

Gounod's early career was marked by an interest in church music and theology, even considering the priesthood at one point. However, he eventually turned to opera, with his first attempts, "Sapho" (1851) and "La Nonne sanglante" (1854), receiving mixed receptions. His breakthrough came with "Faust," which became a staple of the French operatic repertoire despite initial challenges. Gounod's music was known for its melodic originality and skillful orchestration, though sometimes criticized for sentimentality.

During the Franco-Prussian War, Gounod moved to England, where he formed a choir and focused on oratorios like "Gallia" (1871). He returned to France in 1874 but found himself overshadowed by younger composers. Despite this, his influence on French music was significant, impacting composers like Jules Massenet and Gabriel Fauré. Gounod was honored as a grand officier of the Legion of Honour in 1888. He died on October 18, 1893, in Saint-Cloud, near Paris, leaving behind a legacy that includes operas, church music, and the popular "Ave Maria."
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