Massenet, Jules (12 May 1842, Montaud; 13 August 1912, Paris), composer, received his first musical instruction from his mother, and he was admitted to the Conservatoire in Paris at age 11. The youth had to suspend his duties here for an interval because of his family situation, but he returned to Paris in 1860 to continue his work with Napoléon-Henri Reber and Ambroise Thomas . It was at this time that he became acquainted with the workings of a theatre by playing triangle and drums at the…