Adolphe Adam

Born in Paris in 1803, Adolphe Adam grew up in a musical family; his father, Louis Adam, was a respected pianist and teacher at the Paris Conservatoire. Although he studied at the Conservatoire himself, he was drawn less to strict academic life than to writing tuneful, theatrical music that could connect quickly with an audience.

Adam became one of the busiest stage composers of his time, producing operas, ballets, and songs for Parisian theaters. He is especially remembered for Giselle (1841), one of the great Romantic ballets, and for the opera Le postillon de Lonjumeau. He also composed the music for the carol “O Holy Night,” which gave him an unexpected place in holiday tradition.

His career included both success and setbacks, including financial troubles linked to running his own theater, but he kept composing and writing about musical life. He died in Paris in 1856, leaving behind a large body of work and a reputation for graceful, memorable melody.