Jacques Féréol Mazas

Biography

For Mazas Prison, see here.

Jacques Féréol Mazas (23 September 1782 – 26 August 1849) was a French composer, conductor, violinist, and pedagogue.

Biography

Born in Lavaur, Mazas was a pupil of Pierre Baillot at the Paris Conservatoire, from which he received the first prize in 1805. In 1808, he played a violin concerto dedicated to him by Auber. He then performed widely across Europe. In 1831, he accepted the post of first violin at the Théâtre du Palais-Royal. A short time later, he was appointed Directeur des concerts in Orléans, where he directed that city's Opéra Comique theatre. From 1837 to 1841, he was director of the Conservatoire in Cambrai.
He died in Bordeaux.

Music

One of his operas, Le Kiosk had eight performances at the Opéra-Comique in Paris.
His compositions for violin are, for the most part, studies and duets for young string players of all abilities that constitute methods for both violin and viola.