Jean-Baptiste Rey

Jean -Baptiste Rey ( born December 18, 1734 Lauzerte, Quercy, † July 15, 1810 in Paris) was a French composer, conductor and opera director.

Life and work

Jean -Baptiste Rey received his musical training as a chorister at the Abbey of Saint- Sernin in Toulouse. At the age of 17, he became Kapellmeister at the Cathedral of Auch, due to disagreements with the Chapter, he stayed there for only three years. Then he was orchestra conductor at the opera of Toulouse, then in Marseille, Bordeaux and Nantes. 1776, he was called to Paris to conduct there performances of the works of Gluck and Piccini. Then Rey was assistant to Louis Joseph Francoeur, who was then director of the Académie royale de musique ( Paris Opera ). He followed in 1781 Francoeur as director of the opera. Rey was the last conductor, who as Jean- Baptiste Lully used the Dirigierstock.

1779 Jean -Baptiste Rey " maître de musique de la chambre du roy " Louis XVI was .. In the period 1781-1785 he conducted the orchestra of the Concert Spirituel.

1788 completed the opera Arvire Rey et Evelina his friend Antonio Sacchini that this had not been completed before his death. Several motets testify Rey's skill as a composer.

The French Revolution deprived him of all his privileges, but he showed himself adaptable. In 1792 he became a director of the Paris Opera, he also was one of the first professors of the Paris Conservatoire, where he taught according to the principles of Rameau. Among his pupils was François -Joseph Fétis, the posterity owes the most information about Rey's life. In 1802 he was suspended for specialized theoretical quarrels with some colleagues from this activity. Nevertheless, Napoleon appointed him to his " maître de musique de chambre ". 1809 later gave him the sudden death of his daughter from the train, he died in bitterness just a few months later at the age of 76 years ..