Luigini, Alexandre (1850-1906)

[Reverie]

Luigini (of Italian descent) was born in Lyon. After studying at the Conservatoire in Paris where he won a second prize for violin, Luigini returned to Lyon and from 1872 played as a violinist in the theater orchestra, which he went on to lead, becoming conductor in 1877.

As resident conductor he was also expected to meet the compositional demands of the theatre, leading to a number of ballets, operas and orchestral suites. In 1879 he was appointed professor of harmony and composition at the Conservatory of Lyon.

In 1897 he left Lyon to take up the conductorship of the Opéra-Comique in Paris, and led a busy life until his sudden death there in 1906.

His compositions reflect his stage-orchestra background, being mostly music for ballet and opera. A love of melody and an assured grasp of bright and sparkling orchestration, often put me in mind of Moszkowski.

Ballet russe, Op.23  (1885)

5 movements:

I.   Czardas
II.  Valse lente
III. Scène
IV.  Mazurka
V.   Marche russe

LINK:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhjlgCzKCFc

[eschiss1]

Thanks!
Wrote several string quartets too, iirc. I'd be interested in hearing one of those

[Alan Howe]

Absolutely gorgeous stuff - thanks, Martin. A great tonic on a gloomy November day! It'd make a really enjoyable CD, perhaps with some further material by the composer.