Person details

Nicholas Étienne Méhul

Méhul, Nicholas Étienne (1763-1817). French composer. Provincial background and musical education until 1778 when he moved to Paris and received lessons in piano and composition from Edelmann. Although he began to compose for the music for theatre in the 1780s nothing was performed and it was not until 1790 that a work was accepted and produced. Thereafter he was extremely successful, his most effective and influential composition being the opera Joseph. His output includes many operas, vocal works including patriotic cantatas and songs, and some orchestral and instrumental music.