Jules Massenet (1842-1912) was one of the most popular opera composers of his time. He also had the French border effect, especially Italian opera composers like Puccini and Mascagni. Many critics have not thanked him this popularity. They accused him of just wanting to please the public; he shamelessly indulge in exoticism and its success owes just have to compose his gift lovely melodies. This
… unflattering image is by now obsolete. Massenet, composer of such diverse operas as Manon, Werther and Thaïs, not surrendered to blind formula work. He learned the libretto outside before he went to work and composed the music in his head. As a result, few composers can surpass him in the clarity and subtlety of his orchestrations and the nuances of his word settlement. He captivates not only arias, but also in recitative and arioso passages. He was a master at portraying local color and is the composer of immortal melodies as the Méditation from Thaïs for violin and orchestra and Élégie for cello and orchestra. (CP)more
