Composer. Born in Caracas to German and Venezuelan parents, he moved with his family to Paris at age three and studied at its Conservatory under Massenet. He was initially recognized as a teenager for his art songs, which he performed in upper-crust circles, and his subsequent music has the rarified atmosphere of the salon about it. After 1900 he composed mainly for the theatre. His ballet "Le dieu bleu" (1912) was commissioned by Serge Diaghilev for the Ballet Russes, but his fame today rests on the operetta "Ciboulette" (1923) and his songs to poems by Hugo, Verlaine and Gautier, notably the cycle "Chansons grises" (1893). Among his other major works are the operettas "Mozart" (1925) and "Brummel" (1931), and the opera "The Merchant of Venice" (1935). Hahn was the first lover and lifelong friend of Marcel Proust, and served as the lead character of Proust's unfinished novel "Jean Santeuil" (1895). He was also notorious for his dandyism; whenever he spotted someone he felt was poorly dressed he would snort, "Amateur!" From 1945 until his death he was director of the Paris Opera.
Composer. Born in Caracas to German and Venezuelan parents, he moved with his family to Paris at age three and studied at its Conservatory under Massenet. He was initially recognized as a teenager for his art songs, which he performed in upper-crust circles, and his subsequent music has the rarified atmosphere of the salon about it. After 1900 he composed mainly for the theatre. His ballet "Le dieu bleu" (1912) was commissioned by Serge Diaghilev for the Ballet Russes, but his fame today rests on the operetta "Ciboulette" (1923) and his songs to poems by Hugo, Verlaine and Gautier, notably the cycle "Chansons grises" (1893). Among his other major works are the operettas "Mozart" (1925) and "Brummel" (1931), and the opera "The Merchant of Venice" (1935). Hahn was the first lover and lifelong friend of Marcel Proust, and served as the lead character of Proust's unfinished novel "Jean Santeuil" (1895). He was also notorious for his dandyism; whenever he spotted someone he felt was poorly dressed he would snort, "Amateur!" From 1945 until his death he was director of the Paris Opera.
Bio by: Bobb Edwards
Inscription
Reynaldo Hahn / Membre de l’Institut - Commandeur de la Légion d’Honneur / né à Caracas, le 9 août 1874 / mort à Paris, le 28 janvier 1947
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