Louis-Luc Loiseau de Persuis


Louis-Luc Loiseau de Persuis was a French violinist, conductor, choirmaster, teacher, composer, and theatre director.
After commencing his studies of music in his hometown of Metz, Persuis moved to Paris in 1787, and entered the orchestra of the Opéra in 1793. His entire career was within this institution; he became choirmaster in 1803, then conductor in 1810, replacing Jean-Baptiste Rey. He simultaneously worked in administrative rôles, as manager, musical inspector-general, stage manager, then chief director from 3 September 1817 until 13 November 1819, on which date illness forced him to resign.
Persuis composed ballets, operas, and opéras comiques. His greatest success was Le triomphe de Trajan, written in collaboration with Le Sueur. From 1810 to 1815, Persuis was the most performed composer at the Opéra, with 157 performances, largely due to Trajan. His opéras comiques found favour at the Théâtre Favart. He also adapted others' works, for example the oratorio Les Croisés by Maximilian Stadler.
Persuis taught singing at the Conservatoire de Paris until 1802. His name was proposed for a singing school at the Opéra, but the school was not established, although he continued to teach choristers informally.
He died in Paris.

Works for the stage

TitleGenreActsLibrettoPremiere dateVenue
La nuit espagnoleopéra-comiqueunknown J. Fiévée 14 June 1791 Théâtre Feydeau
Estelleopéra-comique3 actsVillebrune 17 December 1793 Théâtre National
Phanor et Angélaopéra-comique3 actsFaur July 1798 Théâtre Feydeau
Léonidas, ou Les spartiates operaunknownPixérécourt 15 August 1799Opéra, Théâtre National de la rue de la Loi|
Fanny Morna, ou L'écossaisedrame-lyrique3 acts E. Favières 22 August 1799,
Le fruit défenduopera1 act E. Gosse 7 March 1800Opéra-Comique,
Marcel, ou L'héritier supposéopéra-comique1 actPixérécourt 12 February 1801Opéra-Comique,
L'inauguration du Temple de la victoire tragédie-lyrique1 actBaour-Lormain, Gardel 2 January 1807Opéra,
Le retour d’Ulysseballet3 actsMilon 24 February 1807Opéra,
Le triomphe de Trajan tragédie-lyrique3 acts J. Esménard, Gardel 23 October 1807Opéra,
La Jérusalem délivréetragédie-lyrique5 acts P.-M. Baour-Lormain after T. Tasso, Gardel 15 September 1812Opéra,
Nina, ou La folle par amourballet2 actsMilon 23 November 1813Opéra,
L’épreuve villageoise, ou André et Deniseballet2 actsMilon 4 April 1815Opéra,
L’heureux retour opéra-ballet1 actMilon 25 July 1815Opéra,
Le carnaval de Venise, ou La constance à l'épreuve ballet2 actsMilon 22 February 1816Opéra,
Les dieux rivaux, ou Les fêtes de Cythère opéra-ballet1 act M. Dieulafoy and C. Briffaut 21 June 1816Opéra,
Der Zauberschlaf ballet2 actsAumer 16 January 1818Vienna, Hoftheater