A French composer of sacred vocal works, operas, and opera-ballets such as Tancrede (1702) and Les fetes venitiennes (1710).

All Music Guide

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Andre Campra (Aix-en-Provence, December 4, 1660 - June 29, 1744 in Versailles) was a French composer and conductor.

Chronologically situated between Jean-Baptiste Lully (1632-1687) and Jean-Philippe Rameau (1683-1764), Campra participated in the renewal of French opera.

Campra received his musical and religious training at the cathedral of Saint-Sauveur in Aix-en-Provence and became a priest in 1678. From 1694 to 1700, he was maitre de musique (music director) at the cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris, after having served in a similar capacity in Toulon, Arles and Toulouse.

He began to turn toward the theater in 1697. He was then engaged by the prince of Conti as maitre de musique, and then in 1730 he became the director of the Opera. With his composition of L'Europe galante he was the true genius of the comedie-ballet (comedy ballet), a musical genre originated by Pascal Colasse (in his Ballet des saisons).

Campra worked at the Academie royale de musique (Royal Academy of Music) and the royal chapel at Versailles after the death of Louis XIV.

Beginning in 1720, he returned to the religious life and devoted most of his time to sacred music. He died at age 83.

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