Adolphe Adam (1803-1856) was born and died in Paris. His father was a pianist, conductor and a professor at the Paris Conservatoire, who initially discouraged his son’s pursuing a musical career. However the younger Adam entered the Conservatoire in 1821, studying the organ and (according to Wikipedia) the harmonium with Boieldieu. Adam supported himself by playing the organ, teaching, and writing music criticism, but he was a prolific composer. He is remembered today for his ballets Giselle and Les Corsairs, and for this Christmas song “Minuit, chrétiens” (known in English as “O Holy Night”), but he also wrote thirty-nine operas. (I am looking for his “Trois Mosaïques” for harmonium.) The poem “Noël—Minuit, chrétiens” was written in 1843 by Placide Cappeau, a wine merchant in the French town of Roquemaure, honoring the renovation of the parish church organ. Adam set the poem to music in the same year, and it was premiered in 1847, sung by opera singer Emily Laurey. Interpreted here by Michael Hendron playing his Mustel harmonium, built in Paris in 1887, and my French class friend, soprano Maureen Newlin. Recorded 18 December 2019. Joyeux Noël à tous et à toutes!
