Vilbac, Alphonse Charles Renaud de

1829-1884

French pianist and organist; born at Montpellier, and died at Brussels. He studied at the Paris Conservatory under Lemoine, Benoist, and was the favorite pupil of Halevy. He won the second prize for organ in 1843, the first prize the following year, and later the Grand Prize of Rome. He spent two years in travel through Italy and Germany. Returning to Paris he took up teaching, and in 1856 became organist of SaintEugene. The next year he produced his first composition, a pretty one-act operetta, Au Clair de la Lune, which was given by the Bouffes Parisiens. This was soon followed by his Don Almanzor. The manuscript of a cantata, Le Renegat de Tangier, and a Messe Solennelle are in the Conservatory Library, and several orchestral works, Pompadour gavotte, Chanson Cypriote, Marche Serbe, and others, were printed.