André Cardinal Destouches

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For the German composer, see Franz Seraph von Destouches.

André Cardinal Destouches (sometimes called des Touches) (April 6, 1672 - February 7, 1749) is a French composer best known for the opera-ballet Les élémens.

Born in Paris, the son of a wealthy merchant, André Cardinal was educated by Jesuits. With a priest he went on a mission to Siam for four years. Coming back to France, he joined the army and participated in the 1692 invasion of Namur, discovering his musical talent while not occupied by combat. He quit the army to pursue his musical aspirations. When his father died in 1694, André Cardinal added "Destouches" to his name in memory of his father's title, Seigneur des Touches et de Guilleville.

Destouches' opera [1]Issé was performed for Louis XIV in 1697. Louis was impressed and said that he enjoyed his music as much as that of Jean-Baptiste Lully. In 1713 the King appointed Destouches inspector general of the Académie Royale de Musique, and later superintendent of chamber music. Royal support continued with Louis XV, and Destouches led the musicians for his daughters' masked ball.