[An illustration of a ship, symbolizing the symbol of Paris]

Histoire de Paris

Charles Gounod
Lorsque Gounod naît ici, en 1818, la place venait d’être aménagée, après la destruction de l’église Saint-André des Arts, édifiée vers 1210. Au lendemain de son grand prix de Rome. (1839); le jeune musicien compose un "Agnus Dei" qui lui vaut l’admiration de Berlioz, son ainé de 15 ans, et l’une des plus profondes émotions de sa jeunesse. Mystique au point de songer à entrer dans les ordres, il ne cesse de méditer sur les textes sacrés, et peut enfin, la gloire venue, se consacrer à la musique religieuse. Ses Messes et ses oratorios font revivre la polyphonie qui, la séduit à Rome. Doté d’un esprit fin et cultivé, il apprécie les autres arts, en particulier la peinture, et dispose envers ses cadets d’une rare faculté d’accueil, dont témoigne Fauré: "Trop de musiciens ne se doutent pas de ce qu’ils doivent à Gounod. Mais je lui garde une infinie reconnaissance et une ardente tendresse". Charles Gounod meurt à Paris en 1893, et ses "Mémoires d’un artiste "paraissent à titre posthume.

One of the series of signs describing historical places in Paris. The signs were placed starting in 1992 and are also called sucettes Starck (Starck’s Lollipops) after Philippe Starck who designed them.

The plaque indicates the place where the composer Charles Gounod (1818-1893) was born, and describes the work of the composer.

The place was photographed on the same day Click for a larger image Click for a larger image

And this is the square mentioned on the sign Click for a larger image


Translation of the text on the sign:
[An illustration of a ship, symbolizing the symbol of Paris]

History of Paris

Charles Gounod
When Gounod was born here, in 1818, the square had just been developed, after the destruction of the Saint-André des Arts church, built around 1210. The day after his Grand Prix de Rome. (1839); the young musician composed an “Agnus Dei” which earned him the admiration of Berlioz, 15 years his senior, and one of the deepest emotions of his youth. Mystical to the point of thinking of entering the orders, he never stopped meditating on sacred texts, and was finally able, when glory came, to devote himself to religious music. His Masses and his oratorios revive the polyphony that seduced him in Rome. Endowed with a fine and cultivated mind, he appreciated the other arts, in particular painting, and had a rare welcoming attitude towards his cadets, as Fauré testifies: "Too many musicians do not suspect what they owe it to Gounod. But I have infinite gratitude and ardent tenderness for him.” Charles Gounod died in Paris in 1893, and his "Mémoires d’un artiste" appeared posthumously.