Paladilhe, Emile

1844-

French composer; born at Montpellier. His father, a cultivated physician, gave him his first instruction in music, and later he studied under Boixet, organist of the Montpellier Cathedral. At nine years of age he went to Paris to join the Conservatory, where he studied organ under Benoist, piano under Marmontel, and composition under Halevy. He took the first prize for piano in 1857, and in 1860 the organ prize, and also the Grand Prize of Rome for his cantata, Le Czar Ivan IV., given at the Opera, but not published. After a short stay in Italy he returned to Paris, where he still resides, and is a member of the tuition committee of the Conservatory, having received the cross of the Legion of Honor in 1881, and succeeded Guiraud in the Academic in 1892. His non-dramatic works include two masses; six Scotch melo- dies; twenty melodies, and other songs with piano accompaniment; a symphony, and some other instrumental music. His first opera, Le Passant, was given at the Opera Comique in 1872. But, aside from the very popular song, Mandolinata, it was not a great success. Neither was L 'Amour Africain, produced in 1875, although it has much intrinsic value. Suzanne, a three-act comic opera, which came out in 1878, shows " something beyond mere ingenuity in devising effects," and is rendered charming by its delicate and unique melodies. Though better received than the others its success was not flattering, and Paladilhe turned to concert composition, writing Fragments symphoniques in 1882. But returning to the field of opera he brought out Diana in 1885, another failure. However, he at last achieved a brilliant success in 1886 with La Patrie, a grand opera, for the text of which Sardou's drama was obtained. His late lyric-drama, Sainte Marie a la mer, was given in 1892. Paladilhe is said to have no great creative ability, and has not kept up with the progress of music, his style being old-fashioned.