Colonne, Edouard (actually, Judas)

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Colonne, Edouard (actually, Judas)

Colonne, Edouard (actually, Judas), notable French conductor; b. Bordeaux, July 23, 1838; d. Paris, March 28, 1910. He studied violin with Girard and Sauzay and composition with Elwart and Thomas at the Paris Cons. After playing violin in the Pasdeloup Orch. and other Paris ensembles, he conducted at Niblo’s Garden in N.Y. Upon his return to Paris, he founded the Concert du Grand Hôtel in 1871, and then the Concerts Nationaux in 1873. In 1874 he founded the Concerts du Châtelet, which became the famous Association Artistique des Concerts Colonne in 1878. He also conducted at the Paris Opéra (1891–93), and made tours as a guest conductor in Europe and the U.S. Colonne acquired a distinguished reputation for his willingness to conduct contemporary works, and he later became a leading champion of Berlioz.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire

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