Louis Beydts

Louis Beydts was a French composer, music critic and theatre director, born 29 June 1895 in Bordeaux and died on 15 August 1953 at Caudéran in Gironde.

His father was a wine-merchant who played the flute, while his mother played the piano. At 16, having finished his school studies, he went into the family business. Having learnt the piano and tried some composition, at 18 he studied harmony, counterpoint and fugue with Julien-Fernand Vaubourgoin. Beydts also studied with André Messager.

During the First World War Beydts was mobilized, only returning to civilian life in 1919, picking up his much-appreciated studies with Vaubourgoin until 1924. His parents were supportive of their son’s musical ambitions.

In Paris he had a work for voice and orchestra Le Sommeil performed at the Concerts Lamoureux in 1926. In 1927 Adieu was performed by the Concerts Colonne, and Le Promenoir des deux amants at the Concerts Pasdeloup.

His first attempt at operetta was Le Bourreau des cœurs (unperformed), but he went on to write others: Moineau(originally entitled La Noce, staged at the Théâtre Marigny on 13 March 1931) with limited success. In November 1931 la S A D M P (la Société amicale des messieurs prudents) with words by Sacha Guitry, was seen at the Théâtre de la Madeleine, and on 22 December of the same year le Club les Canards mandarins was performed in Monte Carlo. Another collaboration with Guitry Voyage de Tchong-Li was staged in March 1932. Beydts was among the last generation of composers to conserve and develop the traditional French opérette.

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