Augusta Holmès
A fiery, independent spirit who stormed the male-dominated world of 19th-century French music with grand operas and orchestral poems.
1847–1903 (age 56)·French composer·Birthday: December 18
Biography
Augusta Holmès arrived in Paris with ambition and a formidable talent. Of Irish birth, she became a French citizen and a commanding presence in musical salons, known as much for her strong will and red hair as for her compositions. Denied entry to the Conservatoire, she studied privately with César Franck, refusing to let gender barriers stop her. She wrote on a massive scale: a four-hour ode to the French Revolution for the 1889 Exposition, the epic opera 'La Montagne noire', and sweeping symphonic poems like 'Irlande' that drew on her Celtic heritage. Holmès always wrote her own librettos and texts, a testament to her literary skill. Living openly with the poet Catulle Mendès and raising their children, she defied social conventions as boldly as she composed, leaving a body of work that is only now being fully rediscovered and appreciated.
#1 When Augusta Was Born
The biggest hits of 1847
Augusta's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1847Born
1852Started school
1860Became a teenager
1863Could drive
President: Abraham Lincoln
1865Could vote
President: Andrew Johnson
1868Turned 21
President: Andrew Johnson
1877Turned 30
President: Rutherford B. Hayes
1887Turned 40
President: Grover Cleveland
1897Turned 50
President: William McKinley
1903Died at 56
Wright brothers achieve first powered flight
President: Theodore Roosevelt
Key Achievements
- Composed 'Ode Triomphale' for the 1889 Paris Exposition, a monumental work for 300 musicians and 900-voice choir.
- Wrote the libretto and music for her grand opera 'La Montagne noire', which was staged at the Paris Opéra in 1895.
- Created the symphonic poem 'Irlande', a pioneering work that incorporated Irish folk melodies into the orchestral repertoire.
- Published some of her early works under the male pseudonym Hermann Zenta.
Did You Know?
She was a talented poet and wrote all the texts for her vocal works herself.
She was a student and close friend of composer César Franck.
She was known for her striking appearance and was painted by several notable artists of her time.
She changed the spelling of her surname from 'Holmes' to 'Holmès' after becoming a French citizen.
“I have always worked with passion, because I believe that without passion one can accomplish nothing great.”
