Ernest Chausson

Ernest Chausson (1855–1899) was a French composer, born in Paris into a wealthy family. He qualified as a lawyer before turning to music, and studied at the Paris Conservatoire with Jules Massenet and with César Franck, who became a close friend. A devoted Wagnerian, he travelled to Bayreuth more than once. He served for years as secretary of the Société Nationale de Musique and kept a salon that drew many of the leading musicians, writers and painters of Paris. He wrote slowly and left a small output that includes the Symphony in B-flat, the Poème for violin and orchestra, songs, chamber music and the opera Le Roi Arthus. He died at 44 in a bicycle accident at Limay.