Vidal, Paul Antoine

1863-

French conductor and composer; born at Toulouse. He received his musical education at the Paris Conservatory, where he made a brilliant record. In 1879 he won the first harmony prize, in 1881 the first prize for fugue, and in 1883 the Grand Prize of Rome. He has been in great demand as an accompanist. He was placed on the teaching staff of the Conservatory in 1894, succeeding Mouzin as professor of solfege. About the same time he became conductor of the Sunday concerts at the Grand Opera, and in 1896 succeeded Madier de Montjau as leader of the orchestra at the Grand Opera. Among his compositions are Le Gladiateur, a cantata; three pantomimes; a three-act lyric fantasy, Eros; a ballet, La Maladetta; two one-act operettas, Le mariage d'Yvette, and La devotion a St. Andre; a three-act lyric drama, Guernica; numerous choral compositions; and an orchestral suite, Les mysteres d'Eleusis.