Alexandre Georges

Alexandre Georges (25 February 1850 – 18 January 1938) was a French organist, teacher and composer. Of his compositions, his most successful opera was Miarka, given at the Opéra-Comique and later at the Opéra. His most popular work was the song-cycle, Chansons de Miarka.

Life Born in Arras, Georges studied at the École Niedermeyer de Paris, after which he joined the army and subsequently became at the Basilica of Saint Clotilde, Paris, where César Franck was organist. He later became organist at Saint-Vincent de Paul. In addition to his church appointments he was a teacher, returning to the École Niedermeyer as professor of harmony,

Strongly attracted by the theatre, Georges composed several operas, of which the most successful was Miarka, premiered at the Opéra-Comique and later revised for a production at the Opéra. It tells the story of a Romany girl destined, according to the tarot cards, to become a queen.

Works According to Grove, Georges' style, is "often restlessly chromatic", showing the influence of Franck, but like many composers of his generation, "he introduced local colour into his works by using characteristic regional dances and songs". Operas Le Printemps (1888) Poèmes d'amour (1892) Charlotte Corday (1901) Miarka (1905) Myrrha (1909) Sangre y sol (1912) Church music Notre Dame de Lourdes Balthazar Chemin de Croix Passion Requiem Mass Symphonic poems Leila La Naissance de Venus Le Paradis perdu Song cycle Chansons de Miarka for voice and piano (also with orchestra)