Raoul Gunsbourg

Raoul Samuel Gunsbourg (January 6, 1860, in

.

Raoul Gunsbourg acquired his musical education and its comprehensive knowledge in language and literature as a self-taught person. He attended Medical School in Bucharest which he finished in 1875. In 1877-78 he served as a medic in the Russian army during the

in 1889-91.

In 1892, on recommendation by Tsar Alexander III of Russia, Gunsbourg was invited by Princess Alice, an American wife of Albert I, Prince of Monaco, to serve as the director of the Opéra de Monte-Carlo. Empowered by Princess Alice's encouragement and support, Gunsbourg transformed the Opéra de Monte-Carlo into a world-class cultural venue. He was the first opera director to stage Berlioz's La damnation de Faust, which was considered at that time more as an oratorio than an opera, in his theatre on February 18, 1893.

Gunsbourg's work in Monte Carlo was briefly interrupted during

who occupied Monaco in 1943 and began the deportation of the Jewish population. After the war was over, Gunsbourg returned to Monaco where he continued directing the Opéra de Monte-Carlo until 1951.

Stage works (operas)

• Le Vieil Aigle (The Old Eagle), 1 act (premiered February 13, 1909, in Monte Carlo)
• Ivan le Terrible, 3 acts (October 20, 1910, in
  Théâtre de la Monnaie
  )
• Venise, 3 acts (March 8, 1913, in Monte Carlo)
• Maître Manole, 3 acts (March 17, 1918, in Monte Carlo)
• Satan, 9 tableaux (March 20, 1920, in Monte Carlo)
• Lysistrata, 3 acts (February 20, 1923, in Monte Carlo)
• Les Dames galantes de Brantome, 5 scenes (together with M. Thiriet and H. Tomasi) (February 12, 1946, in Monte Carlo)

See also

• Gonsbourg, Raoul (1860-1955)
• Raoul Gonsbourg
• Kobbe's Complete Opera Book on Gunsbourg
• Zwischen Petersburg und Monte Carlo by Raoul Gunsbourg
• Free scores by Raoul Gunsbourg at the International Music Score Library Project (IMSLP)

References