André Cardinal Destouches (1672 - 1749)

The son of a rich merchant, the French composer André Cardinal Destouches enjoyed a varied early career, visiting Siam and returning to France to join the King’s Musketeers, the Mousquetaires Noires. He found a talent for music, attracted royal attention, and was to serve in various positions in the court musical establishment under Louis XIV, from 1725 arranging and directing concerts for Queen Maria Leszcynska.

Stage Works
Destouches had his first stage success in 1697 with Issé, described as a ‘pastorale-héroïque’. He was later able, after study, to revise the work and continue with a series of compositions that include tragédies-lyriques, a comédie-ballet and other dramatic forms favoured at the French court.