Varney, Louis

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Varney, Louis

Varney, Louis, French composer and conductor, son of Pierre Joseph Alphonse Varney; b. New Orleans, La., May 30,1844; d. Paris, Aug. 20,1908. He was taken to Paris at the age of 7. He studied with his father, then began his career as a conductor at the Théâtre de l´Athénée, where he also brought out several stage works. From 1880 to 1905 he produced some 40 operettas, the best known of which is Les Mousquetaires au couvent (Paris, March 16,1880). Other operettas include La Femme de Narcisse (April 14,1892), La Fiancée de Thylda (Jan. 26,1900), and Mademoiselle George (Dec. 2,1900), all first performed in Paris.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire