Gustave Charpentier

French composer Gustave Charpentier, born in the Moselle on 25 June 1860, died in Paris on 18 February 1956. An affair with a young seamstress was the inspiration for his most successful work, the opera Louise (completed 1896). He used income from performances to found the Conservatoire Populaire Mimi Pinson to teach music to working class girls.

A selection of M&V articles about Gustave Charpentier

DVD Spotlight. A Disparate Experiment - 'Aria - Special Edition', reviewed by Howard Smith. 'You never know what you're gonna get.'

Ensemble. A Special Privilege - Massenet's 'Don Quichotte' in San Diego, enjoyed by Maria Nockin

CD Spotlight. Respect and Understanding - A CD celebrating 300 years of Charpentier, reviewed by Peter Howell. 'The performance is excellent throughout.'

Drama in the music - Robert Hugill muses on the staging of Handel's oratorios

Ensemble. Radiantly musical - Les Arts Florissants perform music by Charpentier, reviewed by Robert Hugill

CD Spotlight - Showing paces. '... the oratorio performances can only give pleasure.' Charpentier's dramatic strengths, with Robert Anderson