Background
Charles Lamoureux was born at Bordeaux on September 28, 1834.
Charles Lamoureux was born at Bordeaux on September 28, 1834.
Charles Lamoureux studied at the Pau Conservatoire, was engaged as violinist at the Opera, and in 1864 organized a series of concerts devoted to chamber music.
Having journeyed to England and assisted at a Handel festival, he thought he would attempt something similar in Paris.
At his own expense he founded the " Societe de l'Harmonie Sacree, " and in 1873 conducted the first performance in Paris of Handel's Messiah.
He also gave performances of Bach's St Matthew Passion, Handel's Judas Maccabaeus, Gounod's Gallia, and Massenet's Eve.
In 1875 he conducted the festival given at Rouen to celebrate the centenary of Boleldieu.
In 1881 he founded the famous concerts associated with his name, which contributed so much to popularize Wagner's music in Paris.
The performances of detached pieces taken from the German master's works did not, however, satisfy him, and he matured the project to produce Lohengrin, which at that time had not been heard in Paris.
Owing to the opposition of the Chauvinists, the performance was not repeated; but it doubtless prepared the way for the production of the same masterpiece at the Paris Opera a few years later.
Lamoureux was successively second chef d'orchestre at the Conservatoire, first chef d'orchestre at the Opera Comique, and twice first chef d'orchestre at the Opera.
Tristan und Isolde had been at last beard in Paris, owing to his initiative and under his direction.
After conducting one of the performances of this masterpiece he was taken ill and succumbed in a few days, having had the consolation before his death of witnessing the triumph of the cause he had so courageously championed.
chef d'orchestre at the Opera Comique
His father owned a café in Bordeaux.
The Société des Nouveaux-Concerts (which became known as the Concerts Lamoureux) was directed by Lamoureux from 1881 until 1897, when he was succeeded by Camille Chevillard, his son-in-law.