Reyer, Louis-Etienne-Ernest
(1823–1909)> COMPOSER
Reyer, Louis-Etienne-Ernest (1 December 1823, Marseilles; 15 January 1909, Levandou), composer, was born Rey but was known as Ernest Reyer. He distinguished himself as a child of six years with his fine soprano voice and was singled out for honors at Barsotti’s Free School of Music in Marseilles. His parents were not interested in a musical career for their son, however, and they sent him at age 16 to Algiers to work for his uncle. The young man had little taste for commerce, and he spent his…