Alary, Jules (Eugène Abraham)

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Alary, Jules (Eugène Abraham)

Alary, Jules (Eugène Abraham), italian-born French composer; b. Mantua, March 16, 1814; d. Paris, April 17, 1891. After studying at the Milan Cons., he settled in Paris as a voice teacher and composer. He wrote numerous operas, among the most popular being Le tre nozze (Paris, March 29, 1851). His opera La Voix humaine had the curious distinction of being staged at the Paris Opéra (Dec. 30, 1861) for the sole purpose of making use of the scenery left over after the fiasco of Wagner’s Tannhauser. Alary also wrote a mystery play, Redemption (Paris, April 14, 1850), much sacred music, and some chamber pieces.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire