Paul de Choudens

Paul (de) Choudens, also known under the pseudonym Paul Bérel (5 June 1850 – 7 October 1925), was a French musician, music publisher, poet and librettist.

Biography Choudens was born in Paris. In 1888, with his brother Antony, he took over the publishing house established by his father Antoine de Choudens in 1845 and made a fortune in publishing in particular, the music scores of Faust by Gounod and Carmen by Bizet. He was a staunch supporter of Alfred Bruneau, Paul Vidal and André Messager.

As a librettist, he translated and adapted Der Schauspieldirektor by Mozart in collaboration with Arthur Bernède with whom he would write five libretti for the composer Félix Fourdrain.

Libretti Henri Hirschmann: Lovelace (in collaboration with Jules Barbier) Pietro Mascagni: Amica Isidore de Lara: Sanga Ruggero Leoncavallo: Maïa Camille Erlanger: L'Aube rouge Albert Dupuis: La Passion Xavier Leroux: La Plus forte Henry Février: Oletta, la fille du Corse