Died 11 May 1891, Paris, France Parents Joseph Louis Elzéar Ortolan | ||
Eugène Ortolan (1 April 1824, Paris – 11 May 1891, Paris) was an 19th-century French jurist, diplomat and composer.
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Biography
Eugene Ortolan came from a family of lawyers. His grandfather was a magistrate in Toulon, his father Joseph Louis Elzéar Ortolan, a prosecutor and professor at the Paris Law Faculty. His uncle Jean-Félicité-Théodore Ortolan was an expert in maritime law.
By family radition, Eugène Ortolan began a legal career, although his tastes leaned especially towards music. He led both his studies in law in Paris, where he obtained his doctorate and studied music at the Conservatoire de Paris. A student of Jacques Fromental Halévy for counterpoint, and Berton for composition, he presented in 1845 the competition of musical composition of the Institut de France and won first Second Grand Prix de Rome, only prize awarded that year. The chosen poem was Imogine by Pierre-Ange Vieillard (scene with 3 voices).
In 1849, after his doctorate in international law, he was employed at the Foreign Ministry. He made many trips abroad in the diplomatic service, primarily in Belgium and Russia. He ended his career as consul general in Australia. He returned to France in 1881, retired in 1884 and died aged 67.
Music
Due to his diplomatic career, Eugène Ortolan didn't compose much.