Édouard Lalo was born in Lille, France, on January 27, 1823. After
receiving his musical training at Conservatories in Lille and Paris, he
became a member of the Armingaud-Jacquard Quartet, a renowned French
chamber-music ensemble. In 1848-1849 he published some songs; in 1867 he
received third prize in a national contest for his opera, _Fiesque_; and
in 1872 he was acclaimed for his _Divertimento_, for orchestra,
introduced in Paris. Two major works written for the noted Spanish
violinist, Pablo de Sarasate, added considerably to his reputation: a
violin concerto in 1872, and the celebrated _Symphonic espagnole_, for
violin and orchestra, two years after that. One of his last major works
was the opera, _Le Roi d’Ys_, introduced at the Opéra-Comique in Paris
on May 7, 1888. In that same year he was made Officer of the Legion of
Honor and sometime later he received the Prix Monbinne from the Académie
des Beaux-Arts. In the last years of his life he was a victim of
paralysis. He died in Paris on April 22, 1892.
A composer of the highest principles and aristocratic style, Lalo is
essentially a composer for cultivated tastes. One of his works, however,
makes for easy listening. It is the _Norwegian Rhapsody_ (_Rapsodie
norvégienne_), for orchestra (1875). There are two sections. The first
begins slowly and sedately, its main melody appearing in the strings.
Here the tempo soon quickens and a sprightly passage ensues. The second
part of the rhapsody, ushered in by a stout theme for trumpets, is
vigorous music throughout.