Jullien, Louis

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Jullien, Louis [[ Julien]] (Georges Maurice Adolphe Roch Albert Abel Antonio Alexandre Noé Jean Lucien Daniel Eugène Joseph-le-brun Joseph-Barème Thomas Thomas Thomas-Thomas Pierre Arbon Pierre-Maurel Barthélemi Artus Alphonse Bertrand Dieudonné Emanuel Josué Vincent Luc Michel Jules-de-la-Plane Jules-Bazin Julio César) (b Sisteron, 1812; d Paris, 1860). Fr. conductor, composer, and impresario. Sponsored at his baptism by 36 members of local Phil. Soc., each of whom contrib. a name. Early ventures led to insolvency; fled to London where he promoted opera and promenade concerts 1838–59 with his own orch. which he cond. in highly flamboyant style. Engaged Berlioz to cond. four operas at Drury Lane, 1847, resulting in first bankruptcy. Employed what today would be called ‘publicity gimmicks’. Comp. an opera Pietro il Grande (CG 1852). Toured USA 1853–4. Lost all his mus. in CG fire 1856, investments failed 1857. Returned to Paris 1859, was arrested for debt, released, and then put in asylum where he died. Pioneer in use of the baton. Notwithstanding his indulging in such showmanship as being handed a jewelled baton on a silver salver, he had the best players in London in his orch. and was a serious figure in the popularization of mus.

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