Charles Gounod

Born in Paris in 1818, Charles Gounod grew up in an artistic family and studied at the Paris Conservatoire. Early in life he was drawn both to the theater and to sacred music, and those two sides of his personality stayed with him throughout his career.

Gounod became one of the most admired French composers of the 19th century. His greatest stage success was Faust (1859), which became one of the most frequently performed operas of its era, and Roméo et Juliette remains a favorite as well. He also wrote songs, orchestral music, and church works, and his Ave Maria helped make his name familiar far beyond the opera house.

He died in 1893 near Paris, leaving behind music that is still valued for its melodic beauty and emotional directness. Whether writing for the stage or for worship, he had a gift for shaping memorable, expressive lines that continue to speak easily to listeners today.