Édouard Juda Colonne (23 July 1838 – 28 March 1910) was a Frenchconductor andviolinist, and a champion of the music ofBerlioz and other eminent 19th-century composers.
Colonne was born inBordeaux, the son and grandson of musicians of Italian-Jewish descent. From the age of eight, he playedflageolet andaccordion, and then began violin studies with Baudoin.[1] Starting in 1855, Colonne studied at theConservatoire in Paris, where he won first prizes in bothharmony and violin. For almost a decade (1858–67) he was first violinist at theOpéra in Paris, as well as playing second violin in the Lamoureux Quartet. In 1871 he directed concerts at the Grand-Hôtel andMassenet's music for the staging ofLes Érinnyes in 1873.[1]
Also in 1873, Colonne, along with the music publisherGeorges Hartmann, founded the "Concert National" at theOdéon Théatre[1]. Two years later, the venue moved to theThéâtre du Châtelet and the name of the enterprise was changed to 'L'Association Artistique du Châtelet'. The Association's performances eventually became known as theConcerts Colonne; and this name continued to be used until the 1960s.[2]
In 1878 Colonne had metTchaikovsky during the Russian composer's visit to Paris, and, as well as giving the local premiere of his4th Symphony, remained in contact,[3][4] which led to 'exchange' concert trips for Colonne in Russia.[1]
Colonne was noted for his interest inBerlioz (then, on the whole, more highly regarded in the English- and German-speaking countries than in France).David Cairns noted in relation to the performance tradition following the death of Berlioz that the "advent of Edouard Colonne was therefore crucial... Berlioz was accepted – as the composer of a single work, at most of two: Faust and the Fantastic Symphony. But the oeuvre was now in good hands". He comments that when the 15-year-oldPierre Monteux joined Colonne's orchestra in 1890 and "learned the music from the inside" this tradition continued.[5] Monteux (first violist and then assistant conductor of the Colonne orchestra) used Colonne's annotated score for his 1931 recording of Berlioz'sSymphonie fantastique.
In addition, Colonne stood out for his support of the music ofWagner,Mahler andSaint-Saëns. He introduced the descriptive note into programme booklets.[1]
Another of his significant contributions was in the technological sphere: he was the first conductor of note to make commercialphonograph records, all for the FrenchPathé company. His earliest recordings were issued on waxphonograph cylinders,[6] none of which is known to survive, but a later group of recordings, made circa 1906 and issued on Pathé discs, has been remastered and reissued on CD. The works range from Beethoven to Widor, and announcements by Colonne are included.[7]
Colonne's second wife was the sopranoElise Vergin. He died inParis, aged 71.
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Wood, James, ed. (1907). "Colonne, Edouard".The Nuttall Encyclopædia. London and New York: Frederick Warne.
