André Cardinal Destouches

about

André Cardinal Destouches (sometimes called des Touches) (baptised April 6, 1672 - February 7, 1749) was a French composer best known for the opéra-ballet Les éléments. Born in Paris, the son of Étienne Cardinal, a wealthy merchant, André Cardinal was educated by Jesuits. With the Jesuit Father Guy Tachard, he went on a mission to Siam for two years, leaving in January 1687, and spending some time at the Cape of Good Hope, arriving in Siam in September. Coming back to France, in September 1688, he spent several months at the academy in the Manège royale, rue de Tournon. In 1692 he joined the army and participated in the invasion of Namur, discovering his musical talent while not occupied by combat. When his father died in August 1694, André Cardinal added "Destouches" to his name in memory of his father's title, Seigneur des Touches et de Guilleville. He quit the army in 1696 to pursue his musical aspirations. Destouches' opera Issé was performed for Louis XIV at the Trianon in 1697. Louis was impressed and said that he enjoyed his music as much as that of Jean-Baptiste Lully. The opera was successfully repeated at the Opéra a few weeks later. The following year found him dining with Boileau in the company of Racine. After a series of successful operas and the commencement of his successful collaboration with the librettist Pierre-Charles Roy, in 1713 the king appointed Destouches inspector general of the Académie Royale de Musique, at a stipend of 4000 livres a year; later,

top songs

albums

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Destouches, A.C.: Callirhoe [Opera]

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Amazone

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Le Carnaval & La Folie

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Callirhoé

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Callirhoé - 1

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Tailleferre: Revived Piano Works, Vol. 1

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Callirhoé - 2

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Les Grandes Eaux Musicales 2007 Du Château De Versailles

Les élémens

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Cd 4 - Lully And His Successors At The Academie Royale De Musique

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Cd 4 - Lully And His Successo

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Les éléments

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