Paul Collin (12 July 1843 – 5 February 1915) was a French poet, writer, translator and librettist.

Life and career

Collin was born in Conches-en-Ouche. In the 18th and early 19th centuries, his family produced administrative officers in the military, mail and law service as well as physicians. He started a professional career as a lawyer before marrying one of the daughters of the French chemist Theodore Gobley. Poetry proved to be Collin's real vocation, and he went on to write libretti and song lyrics for a number of operas and cantatas, collaborating with contemporary composers of the second half of the 19th century including Tchaikovsky, who used several of his shorter poetry works for songs. Collin published a collection of his works in 1886. The first award of the

Prix Rossini The Prix Rossini for composition was a prize for young librettist and composers which was granted by the French Académie des Beaux-Arts. The prize was funded by a provision in composer Gioachino Rossini's will which took effect in 1878 after the d ...

in 1881 was awarded to Paul Collin and the composer Marie, Countess of Grandval for the oratorio ''La Fille de Jaïre''. Collin also wrote as a music critic for the journal ''

Le Ménestrel ''Le Ménestrel'' (The Minstrel) was an influential French music journal published weekly from 1833 until 1940. It was founded by Joseph-Hippolyte l'Henry and originally printed by Poussièlgue. In 1840 it was acquired by the music publishers Heu ...

''.

Works

Selected works include: * ''Agar'', "poème lyrique" for soloists, mixed chorus and orchestra, music by Georges Pfeiffer (1875) * ''Narcisse: Idylle antique pour solo et choeur'', opera, music by Jules Massenet (1878) * ''Ulysse a l'ile des Sirenes'', cantata, music by Jules Massenet (1879) * ''La Ronde des songes: scène fantastique'', music by Clémence de Grandval (1880) * ''Rébecca'', cantata, music by

César Franck César-Auguste Jean-Guillaume Hubert Franck (; 10 December 1822 – 8 November 1890) was a French Romantic composer, pianist, organist, and music teacher born in modern-day Belgium. He was born in Liège (which at the time of his birth was p ...

(1880–81) * ''La Fille de Jaïre'', oratorio, music by Clémence de Grandval (1881) * ''Eternité'', song, music by Clémence de Grandval (1883) * ''Déception'', No. 2 of the ''Six French Songs'', Op. 65, music by

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky , group=n ( ; 7 May 1840 – 6 November 1893) was a Russian composer of the Romantic music, Romantic period. He was the first Russian composer Music of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, whose music would make a lasting impressi ...

(1888) * ''Sérénade'' ("J'aime dans le rayon"), No. 3 of the ''Six French Songs'', Op. 65, music by Tchaikovsky (1888) * ''Qu'importe que l'hiver'', No. 4 of the ''Six French Songs'', Op. 65, music by Tchaikovsky (1888) * ''Rondel'', No. 6 of the ''Six French Songs'', Op. 65, music by Tchaikovsky (1888) * ''Attala'', music by Juliette Folville (1890) * ''Zaire'', opera, music by Charles Lefebvre (1890) * ''La Naissance de Vénus'', music by Gabriel Fauré (1900) * ''Amica'', opera, music by

Pietro Mascagni Pietro Mascagni (7 December 1863 – 2 August 1945) was an Italian composer primarily known for his operas. His 1890 masterpiece ''Cavalleria rusticana'' caused one of the greatest sensations in opera history and single-handedly ushered in the ' ...

(1905)

Published books

* ''Musique de chambre'', poems, ed. Hachette * ''Glas et carillons'', poems, ed. Hachette * ''Du grave au doux'', poems, ed. Hachette, 1878 * ''Les Heures Paisibles'', poems, ed. Hachette * ''Judith'', dramatic opera, music by Charles Lefebvre, ed. Mackar * ''Poèmes Musicaux'', ed. Tresse et Stock, 1886 * ''Poèmes sacrés et profanes''

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Collin, Paul 1843 births 1915 deaths French poets Romantic poets French opera librettists French critics People from Eure French male poets French male dramatists and playwrights French male non-fiction writers