Robert Cambert facts for kids

Robert Cambert (born around 1628, died 1677) was a French composer who mainly wrote operas. An opera is a play where most of the words are sung, usually with music played by an orchestra. His opera Pomone was the very first opera written in the French language.

Biography

Early Life and Career

Robert Cambert was born in Paris, France, around the year 1628. He learned music from a famous musician named Chambonnières. His first job was playing the organ at the Saint-Honoré church in Paris. In 1655, he got married to Marie du Moustier.

Around this time, a powerful leader named Cardinal Mazarin became his supporter. Cardinal Mazarin helped Cambert get a job as the music director for Queen Anne of Austria, who was the mother of King Louis XIV. Cambert often worked with a writer named Pierre Perrin, who wrote the stories and words for his operas (these are called librettos). Their works were often performed for the royal family.

However, after Cardinal Mazarin died, and the Queen retired, Cambert's position at court became less strong. New people gained power, and Cambert's influence decreased.

The Royal Music Academy

In 1669, Pierre Perrin started a new music school called the Académie Royale de Musique (Royal Academy of Music). This academy was supported by the French King. Cambert was invited to help Perrin manage this important project. Today, this academy is seen as one of the key starting points for what we now call "grand opera."

But soon, both Perrin and Cambert were replaced at the academy by another famous composer, Lully. Cambert was very angry about this. He felt insulted and believed the French King was not interested in his music anymore. Because of this, he left France in 1673 to continue his music career in England.

Life in England

When Cambert arrived in England, King Charles II welcomed him warmly. He was quickly given the title "Master of the King's Band." Some of his musical pieces that had not been popular in France were now performed in London.

Even though he was accepted at the English court, his operas were not very popular with the general public in England. His operas like Pomone, Ariane, and Les Peines et les plaisirs de l'amour were not as well-liked by English audiences as they were by French ones.

Robert Cambert died in London in 1677.

See also

In Spanish: Robert Cambert para niños