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André Messager

André Charles Prosper Messager (French: [mɛsaʒe]; 30 December 1853 – 24 February 1929) was a French composer, organist, pianist and conductor. His compositions include eight ballets and thirty opéras comiques, opérettes and other stage works, among which his ballet Les Deux Pigeons (1886) and opéra comique Véronique (1898) have had lasting success; Les P'tites Michu (1897) and Monsieur Beaucaire (1919) were also popular internationally.

Messager took up the piano as a small child and later studied composition with, among others, Camille Saint-Saëns and Gabriel Fauré. He became a major figure in the musical life of Paris and later London, both as a conductor and a composer. Many of his Parisian works were also produced in the West End and some on Broadway; the most successful had long runs and numerous international revivals. He wrote two operatic works in English, and his later output included musical comedies for Sacha Guitry and Yvonne Printemps.

As a conductor, Messager held prominent positions in Paris and London, at the head of the Opéra-Comique, the Paris Opéra, the Orchestre de la Société des Concerts du Conservatoire, and the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Although as a composer he is known chiefly for his light works, as a conductor he presented a wide range of operas, from Mozart to Richard Strauss, and he acquired a reputation as a conductor of Wagner. In Paris he conducted the world premieres of Debussy's Pelléas et Mélisande, Massenet's Grisélidis and Charpentier's Louise. At Covent Garden, he gave the British premieres of operas by Saint-Saëns and Massenet.

Messager's music became known for its melodic and orchestral invention, musical craftsmanship, and characteristically French elegance and grace. Although most of his works have been infrequently revived, historians of music consider him the last major figure in French opéra comique and opérette.

Birth and Death Data: Born December 30, 1833 (Montluçon), Died February 24, 1929 (Paris)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1902 - 1938

Roles Represented in DAHR: composer, director, conductor

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 26-50 of 96 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Columbia 49540 12-in. 10/23/1918 Impressions of Italy : A mules André Messager ; Orchestre de la Société des concerts du Conservatoire Orchestra director  
Columbia 49541 12-in. 10/24/1918 Les chasseresses French Symphony Orchestra ; André Messager ; Orchestre de la Société des concerts du Conservatoire Orchestra director  
Columbia 50603 10-in. between 1903 and 1906 Duo de l'ane Mary Boyer ; Albert Piccaluga Vocal duet (mezzo-soprano and baritone) composer  
Columbia 59632 12-in. approximately September 1920 Duo de l'escarpolette Louis Chartier ; Blanche Gonthier Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 73248 10-in. approximately 1923 Trot here and there Dora Labbette ; Evan Williams Female-male vocal duet, with piano composer  
Columbia 75314 12-in. approximately 1916 Scene and pas des deux Garde Républicaine Band Band composer  
Columbia 75315 12-in. approximately 1916 Theme and variations Garde Républicaine Band Band composer  
Columbia 75316 12-in. approximately 1916 Divertissement Garde Républicaine Band Band composer  
Columbia 75318 12-in. approximately 1916 Finale Garde Républicaine Band Band composer  
Columbia 76435 12-in. approximately 1919 Monsieur Beaucaire, selection, part 1 Prince's Theatre Orchestra ; Kennedy Russell Orchestra composer  
Columbia 76436 12-in. approximately May 1919 Honour and love John Clarke ; Prince's Theatre Orchestra ; Kennedy Russell Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 76437 12-in. approximately 1919 Waltz Prince's Theatre Orchestra ; Kennedy Russell Orchestra composer  
Columbia 76438 12-in. approximately 1919 Monsieur Beaucaire : Waltz London Dance Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Columbia 76439 12-in. approximately 1919 Monsieur Beaucaire, selection, part 2 Prince's Theatre Orchestra ; Kennedy Russell Orchestra composer  
Columbia 76440 12-in. approximately May 1919 I love you a little John Clarke ; Alice Moffat ; Prince's Theatre Orchestra ; Kennedy Russell Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 76441 12-in. approximately May 1919 We are not speaking now John Clarke ; Alice Moffat ; Prince's Theatre Orchestra ; Kennedy Russell Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 76454 12-in. approximately May 1919 English maids Marion Green ; Prince's Theatre Orchestra ; Kennedy Russell Male vocal solo, with orchestra chorus composer  
Columbia 76455 12-in. approximately May 1919 Gold and blue and white Marion Green ; Prince's Theatre Orchestra ; Kennedy Russell Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 76456 12-in. approximately May 1919 Red rose Marion Green ; Prince's Theatre Orchestra ; Kennedy Russell Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 76457 12-in. approximately May 1919 Under the moon Marion Green ; Prince's Theatre Orchestra ; Kennedy Russell Male vocal solo, with orchestra and chorus composer  
Columbia 76460 12-in. approximately 1919 The rose minuet Prince's Theatre Orchestra ; Kennedy Russell Orchestra composer  
Columbia 76461 12-in. approximately May 1919 Philomel Prince's Theatre Orchestra ; Kennedy Russell ; Maggie Teyte Female vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 76462 12-in. approximately May 1919 I do not know Prince's Theatre Orchestra ; Kennedy Russell ; Maggie Teyte Female vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 76463 12-in. approximately May 1919 Lightly, lightly Marion Green ; Prince's Theatre Orchestra ; Kennedy Russell ; Maggie Teyte Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 76464 12-in. approximately May 1919 Say no more Marion Green ; Prince's Theatre Orchestra ; Kennedy Russell ; Maggie Teyte Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra composer  
(Results 26-50 of 96 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Messager, André," accessed April 26, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103767.

Messager, André. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 26, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103767.

"Messager, André." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 26 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103767

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