Composer of the Month 5/2013: Etienne-Nicolas Méhul (selected by Peter van Dessel / Belgium)

France 25.5.1963 The video shows the English tenor Laurence Dale (born 1957) in a scene from the opera "Joseph in Egypt". The French composer Etienne-Nicolas Méhul was born on 22 June 1763 in Givet. He began his musical education as an organist in the Franciscan monastery in his hometown. In 1779 he moved to Paris, where he studied composition with Jean Frédéric Edelmann. He worked as a teacher in the 1780s and published two volumes of piano sonatas. Méhul is considered one of the most important composers of the French Revolution. His "Chant national du 14 Juillet 1800" almost got the status of a national anthem. Méhul was known above all for his more than forty operas, of which "Joseph in Egypt" is still performed today. Besides the operas Mehul composed six great piano sonatas, three ballets, six symphonies, stage music and masses. Etienne-Nicolas Méhul died on 18 October 1817 in Paris. In June 2013, his birth anniversary comes up for the 250th time. More composer can be found in the members only section