Louis-Luc Loiseau de Persuis
Encyclopedia
Louis-Luc Loiseau de Persuis (4 July 1769 – 20 December 1819) was a French violinist, conductor, choirmaster, teacher, composer, and theatre director.
After commencing his studies of music in his hometown of Metz
, Persuis moved to Paris in 1787, and entered the orchestra of the Opéra
in 1793. His entire career was within this institution; he became choirmaster in 1803, then conductor in 1810, replacing Jean-Baptiste Rey
. He simultaneously worked in administrative rôles, as manager, musical inspector-general (1816), stage manager (1817), then chief director from 3 September 1817 until 13 November 1819, on which date illness forced him to resign.
Persuis composed ballets, operas, and opéras-comiques. His greatest success was Le Triomphe de Trajan (1807), written in collaboration with Le Sueur
. From 1810 to 1815, Persuis was the most performed composer at the Opéra, with 157 performances, largely due to Trajan. His opéra-comiques found favour at the Théâtre Favart. He also adapted others' works, for example the oratorio
Les Croisés (Die Befreyung von Jerusalem, 1813) by Maximilian Stadler
.
Persuis taught singing at the Conservatoire de Paris
until 1802. His name was proposed for a singing school at the Opéra, but the school was not established, although he continued to teach choristers informally.
After commencing his studies of music in his hometown of Metz
Metz
Metz is a city in the northeast of France located at the confluence of the Moselle and the Seille rivers.Metz is the capital of the Lorraine region and prefecture of the Moselle department. Located near the tripoint along the junction of France, Germany, and Luxembourg, Metz forms a central place...
, Persuis moved to Paris in 1787, and entered the orchestra of the Opéra
Paris Opera
The Paris Opera is the primary opera company of Paris, France. It was founded in 1669 by Louis XIV as the Académie d'Opéra and shortly thereafter was placed under the leadership of Jean-Baptiste Lully and renamed the Académie Royale de Musique...
in 1793. His entire career was within this institution; he became choirmaster in 1803, then conductor in 1810, replacing Jean-Baptiste Rey
Jean-Baptiste Rey
Jean-Baptiste Rey was a French conductor and composer.Rey was born at Lauzerte. He remains the longest-serving conductor of the Paris Opera; his tenure spans from the last years of the monarchy to Napoleon's Empire...
. He simultaneously worked in administrative rôles, as manager, musical inspector-general (1816), stage manager (1817), then chief director from 3 September 1817 until 13 November 1819, on which date illness forced him to resign.
Persuis composed ballets, operas, and opéras-comiques. His greatest success was Le Triomphe de Trajan (1807), written in collaboration with Le Sueur
Jean-François Le Sueur
Jean-François Le Sueur was a French composer, best known for his oratorios and operas.-Life:...
. From 1810 to 1815, Persuis was the most performed composer at the Opéra, with 157 performances, largely due to Trajan. His opéra-comiques found favour at the Théâtre Favart. He also adapted others' works, for example the oratorio
Oratorio
An oratorio is a large musical composition including an orchestra, a choir, and soloists. Like an opera, an oratorio includes the use of a choir, soloists, an ensemble, various distinguishable characters, and arias...
Les Croisés (Die Befreyung von Jerusalem, 1813) by Maximilian Stadler
Maximilian Stadler
Maximilian Johann Karl Dominik Stadler, Abbé Stadler was an Austrian composer, musicologist and pianist....
.
Persuis taught singing at the Conservatoire de Paris
Conservatoire de Paris
The Conservatoire de Paris is a college of music and dance founded in 1795, now situated in the avenue Jean Jaurès in the 19th arrondissement of Paris, France...
until 1802. His name was proposed for a singing school at the Opéra, but the school was not established, although he continued to teach choristers informally.
Works
- La Nuit espagnole (opéra-comique, 1791)
- Estelle (opéra-comique, 1794)
- Phanoret Angela (opéra-comique, 1798)
- Léonidas ou les Spartiates (opera, with Gresnick, 1799)
- Le Retour d’Ulysse (ballet, 1806)
- Le Triomphe de Trajan (opera, with Le SueurJean-François Le SueurJean-François Le Sueur was a French composer, best known for his oratorios and operas.-Life:...
, 1807) - La Jérusalem délivrée (opera, 1812)
- Nina ou la Folle par amour (ballet, 1813)
- L’Épreuve villageoise (ballet, 1815)
- L’Heureux retour (opera, with BertonHenri Montan BertonHenri Montan Berton was a French composer, teacher, and writer, and the son of Pierre Montan Berton.-Career:...
and KreutzerRodolphe KreutzerRodolphe Kreutzer was a German violinist, teacher, conductor, and composer of forty French operas.-Biography:...
, 1815)