Salvayre, Gervais Bernard

1847-

French operatic composer, who was born at Toulouse, and received his first lessons in music from the director of the Toulouse Cathedral, then entered the Conservatory of that city, and finally became a student at the Paris Conservatory, under Ambroise Thomas, who, with Bazin, taught him counterpoint and fugue, and Benoist, who directed his organ studies. Salvayre won various prizes for organ, notably the first organ prize in 1868. In 1872 he won the Grand Prize of Rome for which he had competed regularly since 1867. After going to Rome, his first compositions were some Roman songs, which were followed by a Stabat Mater, an organ piece, Les Bacchantes; the 113th Psalm; and an oratorio, The Last Judgment, later remodeled and produced at the Chatelet concerts as Le Resurrection in 1876. On his return to Paris from Rome in 1874 Salvayre produced a symphonic overture, and in 1877 was appointed chorusmaster at the Opera Populaire. While in that position he composed several operas, among them Le Bravo; Richard III.; Egmont, a comic opera, and La Fandango, produced at the Paris Opera in 1877. Le Bravo, a comic opera, later was transformed into a spectacular drama and had a striking success, both in France and in other countries. In 1894 he visited Servia and was later musical critic of Gil Bias and contributed numerous articles to Paris periodicals. Besides the works mentioned he composed a divertissement for ballet; and set to music Dumas* drama, La Dame de Monsoreau, which was given at the Opera in 1888, but was not received with much favor. He has also written songs and considerable music for the piano.