Aimé Maillart

Louis-Aimé Maillart (March 24, 1817 – May 26, 1871) was a French composer, best known for his operas, particularly Les Dragons de Villars and Lara.

Maillart was born in Montpellier (Hérault). He studied at the Paris Conservatory from 1833, learning composition from Aimé-Ambroise-Simon Leborne and Fromental Halévy, and violin from Guérin, and winning the Prix de Rome in 1841. He traveled to Italy for three years, before returning to France and composing six operas, all first performed in Paris.

Of his operas, Les dragons de Villars (1856) and Lara (1864) are the best known. Les dragons de Villars premiered at the Théâtre Lyrique; it was also popular in Germany (under the title Das Glöckchen des Eremiten) and received a performance in New York City. Lara was based on a poem of the same name by Lord Byron.

Maiilart died in Moulins, Allier in the Auvergne region of France at age 54. He is buried in Montmartre Cemetery in Paris.

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