François Benoist

François Benoist, (10 September 1794 in Nantes – 6 May 1878 in Paris), was a French composer and organist.

Biography

François Benoist studied music at the Conservatoire de Paris and won the Prix de Rome in 1815 for his cantata "Œnone". In 1819, he became organist ("organiste du roi") and professor organ at the Conservatoire. His students included César Franck, Camille Saint-Saëns, Charles Lecocq, Louis Lefébure-Wely et Adolphe Adam. As composer, he wrote two operas, four ballets, one Requiem mass, and numerous works for organ.

Selected compositions

* "Léonore et Félix", opéra-comique, 1821
* "Chœur d'adieu", 1836
* "La Gipsy", ballet, 1839
* "Le Diable amoureux", ballet, 1840
* "Bibliothèque de l'organiste", 12 volumes, 1841–1861
* "Messe de Requiem pour trois voix d'homme et une d'enfant, avec accompagnement d'orgue ad libitum", 1842.
* "Othello", opera, 1844
* "L'Apparition", opera, 1848
* "Nisida ou les Amazones des Açores", ballet (book by Eugène Deligny), 1848
* "Pâquerette", ballet (with Arthur Saint-Léon), 1851
* "Deux Préludes", 1860
* "Recueil de quatre morceaux pour orgue : Andante, Fugue sur le "Pange lingua", Marche religieuse, Communion", 1861
* "Messe à 4 voix, orgue et orchestre", 1861
* "Ave Maria pour mezzo-soprano"
* "Kyrie à 4 voix"
* "O Salutaris à une voix",
* "Cantique à la Sainte Vierge"

External links

* [http://www.musimem.com/benoist.htm François Benoist : un maître nantais oublié] (in French)