Fromentmal Halevy

“Jordan paints a rich portrait of Halévy at the height of his powers in the mid-1850s. A prolific output included at least one new opera a year, occasionally three...he was renowned as a productive public speaker, author of learned papers...a supporter of young artists, much loved professor of composition to Saint-Saëns, Gounod and Bizet, a husband and father of two daughters.”