Pauline Thys facts for kids

Pauline Marie Elisa Thys (1835–1909) was a talented French composer and librettist. This means she wrote music and also the words (story) for musical shows. She was born in Paris, France. Her father, Alphonse Thys, was also a famous composer who wrote funny operas called opéra comiques.

At first, Pauline wrote pretty songs for people to sing in their homes and easy piano pieces. But soon, she started writing music for the stage! She created operettas (light, fun musical plays), opéra-comiques (operas with spoken parts and often a happy ending), and even full operas. Sometimes, she even wrote the story herself.

In 1877, Pauline Thys helped start an important group called the Association des femmes artistes et professeurs. This group was for women artists and teachers. In 1883, she received a special honor called Chevalier de l'Ordre des Palmes académiques. This award is given by the French government to people who have done great things in education and culture.

Pauline Thys's Musical Works

Pauline Thys wrote many different kinds of music during her life. She was especially known for her stage works, which are like musical plays or operas.

Stage Works

These are some of the musical plays and operas Pauline Thys wrote:

• La Pomme de Turquie (The Turkish Apple), an operetta from 1857.
• Quand Dieu est dans le ménage, Dieu le garde (When God is in the Household, God Protects It), an operetta from 1860.
• Le Roi de Cocagne (The King of Cockaigne), an opéra-comique from 1862.
• Manette, an opéra-comique from 1865.
• La Congiura di Chevreuse (The Conspiracy of Chevreuse), an opera from 1876.
• Le Cabaret du Pot-cassé (The Broken Pot Tavern), an operetta from 1878.
• Nedgeya, an operetta from 1880.
• Le Mariage de Tabarin (The Marriage of Tabarin), an opéra-comique from 1885. This was a French version of her earlier opera, La Congiura di Chevreuse.
• Judith, a serious opera called a tragédie lyrique.

Songs

Pauline Thys also wrote many beautiful songs for a single voice. Here are a few examples:

• Chanson créole (Creole Song) from 1856.
• Le Chant du gondolier (The Gondolier's Song) from 1856.
• Le Souvenir (The Memory) from 1856.
• Six Fables de La Fontaine (Six Fables by La Fontaine) for solo voice, published in 1861. These songs were based on famous French fables.
• Tes vingt ans (Your Twenty Years) from 1861.
• La Neige tombe sur nos toits (Snow Falls on Our Roofs) from 1862.
• Mignonne, voici le jour (Sweetheart, Here is the Day) from 1884.

Piano Music

She also composed music for the piano, such as:

• Air havanais (Havana Tune) from 1875.