Photo: Nadar / Adam Cuerden / Public domain (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
Charles Gounod is one of those composers whose music you know far better than his name — if you've ever watched Alfred Hitchcock's TV show, you've heard the Funeral March of a Marionette and probably hummed along without realizing who wrote it. But his real monument is Faust, which he finished in 1859 and which went on to become one of the most performed operas of the 19th century — a staggering achievement for any composer. Born in Paris in 1818, he won the prestigious Prix de Rome at just twenty-one, studied in Italy, and came back shaped by both sacred music and the grand theatrical tradition of French opera. His Roméo et Juliette proved he wasn't a one-hit wonder, and his Ave Maria — built over a Bach prelude — became a wedding and funeral staple worldwide. France honored him with the Grand Officer of the Legion of Honour, and honestly, for a man who could make tragedy sound so lush and inevitable, it feels well earned.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Charles Gounod
- Name (Japanese)
- シャルル・グノー
- Reading
- しゃるる・ぐのー
- Born
- June 17, 1818 – October 18, 1893
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Gemini / Tiger
- Origin
- Paris, France
- Occupation
- classical composer / musicologist / music educator / organist / composer
2. Background
Awards & achievements
- 1839 Prix de Rome
- 1871 Royal Philharmonic Society Gold Medal
- 1877 Commander of the Legion of Honour
- 1880 Grand Officer of the Legion of Honour
4. Personality
Motto
Private
5. Works & records
| Category | Title | Role | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notable work | Faust | — | |
| Notable work | Roméo et Juliete | — | |
| Notable work | Funeral March of a Marionette | — |
6. Links
Frequently asked questions
When was Charles Gounod born?
June 17, 1818 – October 18, 1893.
Where is Charles Gounod from?
Charles Gounod is from Paris, France.
What does Charles Gounod do?
Charles Gounod works as classical composer, musicologist, music educator, organist, composer.
What is Charles Gounod known for?
Notable works include Faust, Roméo et Juliete, Funeral March of a Marionette.
Musicologist — see all → · More people from France →
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-02
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.