Planquette, Jean Robert

1850-1903

French operatic composer; born and died at Paris. Studied under Duprato at the Conservatory, and made his essay in composition with chansonettes and songs for the Cafesconcerts. These made him popular and he soon brought out his first operettas, Le serment de Madam Gregoire and Le Paille d'Avoine, in 1874. His best known operetta, Les Cloches de Corneville or The Chimes of Normandy, appeared at the Folies Dramatique in 1877. At first it was a failure but it suddenly became popular and was such an immense success that it was played successively four hundred times. Then followed Le Chevalier Gaston; Les Voltigeurs de la 32me; Rip Van Winkle; Nell G wynne, or Colombine; La Cremaillerie; Surcouf ; La Cocarde Tricolore, and Le Talisman, Panurge, and Mam'zelle Quat' Sous. The Old Guard and Paul Jones were written expressly, where they appeared in 1887 and 1889. Planquette's music is clever, melodious and charming. His Marche des Sambre et Meuse was added to the list of songs of a number of regiments. He left an operetta, Paradis de Mahomet, found among his papers and recently performed at Paris with great success.