Guiraud, Ernest (1837–1892)

French composer. He wrote operas, several cantatas, and overtures, and recitatives for Bizet's Carmen and Offenbach's Contes d'Hoffman; he also finished the orchestration of the latter.

Guiraud was born in New Orleans, USA, the son of a French musician. He studied at the Paris Conservatory and won the Prix de Rome in 1859. He served in the Franco-Prussian War and in 1876 became professor of harmony and accompaniment at the Conservatory, following Victor Massé as the head of the advanced composition class in 1880. Debussy was one of his pupils.

Works Opera Sylvie (1864), En Prison (1869), Le Kobold (1870), Madame Turlupin, Piccolino (1876), Galante Aventure, Le Feu, Frédégonde (unfinished, completed by Saint-Saëns).

Ballet Gretna Green (1873).

Orchestral overture Arteveld, Chasse fantastique (after Hugo's Beau Pécopin), and suite for orchestra; Caprice for violin and orchestra.

Other recitatives for Bizet's Carmen and orchestration of Offenbach's Contes d'Hoffmann.