Montemezzi with his American wife paid a visit to America (1925) and was fittingly received at the Metropolitan Opera House where Edward Johnson and Lucrezia Bori delighted people with the lovely opera. Some of the other modern names in Italy are Giovanni Sgambati (instrumental pieces); Giuseppi Martucci (instrumental pieces); Marco Enrico Bossi, a famous Italian organist whose visit to this country in 1925 ended tragically, as he died on the boat on his way home, and Buongiorno, Eugenio di Parani and Franchetti, and Amilcare Ponchielli (1834–1886), composer of _La Giaconda_. Now let us turn to what France has done in opera in the second half of the 19th century. FRENCH OPERA When Meyerbeer was musical czar of Paris, we see not only Wagner in France, but six other important composers. Hector Berlioz (1803–1869) was a tone poet; Charles Ambroise Thomas (1811–1896), Charles François Gounod (1818–1893), and Georges Bizet (1838–1875) were opera writers; Charles Camille Saint-Saëus (1835–1921) was a composer of concertos, piano and chamber music and of one famous opera; and César Franck the Belgian (1822–1890) who lived in Paris, although not an opera writer, influenced the composers of opera who lived after him. _Mignon_ came from the heart of one of these, Ambroise Thomas, winner of the _Prix de Rome_, and in 1871 the director of the Paris Conservatory. He wrote several works, among them a successful opera _Hamlet_, yet none have done as much for his reputation as _Mignon_. Félicien David (1810–1876) is known for his symphonic poem _Le Desert_ and his _Laila Rookh_, an opera which was given at the _Opéra Comique_. Another well known name is Benjamin Godard (1849–1895). Do you remember the _Berceuse_ from his opera _Jocelyn_? He wrote _Le Dante_ and _La Vivandière_ and many salon pieces for young students of the piano. GOUNOD’S “FAUST” _Faust_, in connection with music, makes us think of Gounod. Gounod was born in Paris and showed musical ability when a boy. He was graduated from the Conservatory and won the _Prix de Rome_ (1837). His interest always seemed to be in religious music for he went to Italy to study Palestrina and Bach. His study resembled a church for it had stained glass windows and an organ, and furnishings which gave it a religious atmosphere. After he returned from Rome he studied for the priesthood but soon gave it up. Gounod’s musical training was very broad for at first he was influenced by Rossini, Weber and Mozart, and later by Bach and Palestrina. His _Messe Solennelle_ (_Solemn Mass_) was given in 1861 and his _Faust_ in 1859. This is considered to be one of the most tuneful operas written in the 19th century, and packs opera houses all over the world. His _Romeo and Juliette_, though not as popular is still given and his _Médecin Malgré Lui_ (_Doctor in Spite of Himself_) (from Molière’s play), “is a gem of refined setting” says Clarence Hamilton.