Thomas, AMBROISE

Thomas, AMBROISE, French musical composer, was born at Metz, 5th August 1811. He entered the Paris Conservatoire in 1828, where he carried off the first prize for piano playing in 1829, for harmony in 1830, following up these two successes by gaining the Grand Prix for musical composition in 1832. Before he had reached the age of twenty-six Thomas had produced a cantata, a Messe de Requiem for orchestra, and numerous pieces for pianoforte, violin, and orchestra. His first success in opera was with La Double Échelle in 1837, followed by Mina (1843), Betty (1846), Le Caid (1849), Le Songe d'une Nuit (1850), Le Carnaval de Venise (1853), Mignon (1866), Hamlet (1868), Françoise de Rimini (1882), with innumerable other operas, cantatas, part-songs, and choral scenes. Thomas was appointed a member of the Institute in 1851, professor of Composition in 1852, and succeeded Auber as director of the Conservatoire in 1871. A Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour (1880), he died 12th February 1896.