Ernest Chausson

Ernest Chausson (1855–1899) was a French composer. A student of Jules Massenet and later César Franck at the Paris Conservatoire, he developed a style that combined French lyricism with the harmonic richness of Franck and the dramatic influence of Wagner. His works include songs, chamber music, orchestral pieces, and stage works. Among his best-known compositions are the Poème de l’amour et de la mer, the Symphony in B-flat major, the opera Le Roi Arthus, and the Poème for violin and orchestra. Closely connected to the Société Nationale de Musique, he played an important role in Parisian musical life of the late 19th century.