Édouard Lalo was born in Lille, France in 1823, and became a teacher and violinist in Paris after studying at the Conservatoire de Paris. He married singer Julie Besnier de Maligny in 1865 and started to compose operas. His most famous one was originally not well-received and heavily criticized. Following this episode in his career, he focused all his attention on the more fashionable chamber music.  

The Symphonie Espagnole is his most famous oeuvre and is still part of the violin repertoire. It is a lively and bright piece that requires a lot of energy.  

The composer had a son with wife Julie, who later became a music critic. Éduard Lalo would eventually receive the French Légion d’Honneur in 1873. He died in Paris at age 69 and left many unfinished works behind, as well as a great music legacy for violin and orchestra. 

Photo credit: Pierre Petit