Background
Jules Massenet was born at Montaud on May 12, 1842. He was the youngest of the four children of Alexis Massenet and his second wife Eléonore-Adelaïde née Royer de Marancour.
Jules Massenet was born at Montaud on May 12, 1842. He was the youngest of the four children of Alexis Massenet and his second wife Eléonore-Adelaïde née Royer de Marancour.
Jules Massenet studied at the Paris Conservatoire, where he obtained the Grand Prix de Rome in 1863 with the cantata David Rizzio.
Jules Massenet became one of the most prolific composers of his time.
He was professor of composition at the Conservatoire from 1878 to 1896, among his pupils being Hillemacher, Marty, Bruneau, Vidal, Pierne, Leroux and Char- pentier.
Massenet undoubtedly possesses a style of his own.
He is at his best in music descriptive of the tender passion, and many of the love scenes in his operas are very beautiful.
In October 1866 Jules Massenet married Ninon. They had one dauther, Juliette.
