1850. =Zdenko Fibich= (Bohemian). Has written operas of the type popularized in his country by Smetana. 1850. =Robert Planquette= (Paris). Composed the evergreen _Cloches de Corneville_, so dear to the heart of the Frenchman. His operettas are bright and sparkling. 1850. =Anton Siedl= (Pesth). A Wagnerian conductor of power. He has conducted on the Continent, in England, and in America. 1851. =A. Goring Thomas= (Ratton). This composer of so many favourite songs, wrote the operas _Esmeralda_ and _Nadeshda_, from which excerpts are frequently heard. 1851. =Vincent d’Indy= (Paris). Is a prominent modern French composer; his _Fervaal_ is a fine dramatic work. 1851. =Tamagno= (Turin). A celebrated operatic tenor, whose fees of £400 per night in America are said to have created a record for male vocalists. Tamagno died in 1905. 1851. =Jan Blockx= (Belgian composer). Is the director of the Flemish School of Music in Antwerp; he has written several operas, of which mention may be made of _Princesse d’Auberge_. 1852. =Frederick Cowen= (Jamaica). The well-known song-writer and conductor has made several essays on opera with more or less success. 1852. =C. V. Stanford= (Dublin). Is one of the strongest hopes of the English school of opera composition; his various efforts, although hardly crowned with unqualified success, are almost all noteworthy and distinctly great in achievement. 1852. =Frederick Corder= (London). Composed _Nordisa_ for the Carl Rosa Company. 1852. =Jean de Reszke= (Warsaw). One of the greatest of operatic tenors, whose interpretations of the Wagner rôles has seldom been equalled. 1852. =Barton McGuckin= (Dublin). Tenor vocalist of repute. 1854. =Engelbert Hamperdinck= (Siegburg). The composer of the popular _Hansel and Gretel_. 1855. =E. de Reszke= (Warsaw). Brother of the famous tenor, and an almost equally great baritone; excels in such parts as “Sachs” (_Meistersinger_), etc. 1857. =Alfred Bruneau= (Paris). An extremely modern French composer, whose striking works create much discussion. 1858. =Giacomo Puccini= (Lucca). Is an Italian composer whose works are now enjoying very great popularity, quite a number of them being constantly before the public. 1858. =R. Leoncavallo= (Naples). Is another member of the Italian school, and the composer of _Pagliacci_. 1859. =T. J. Paderewski= (Podolia). The world-renowned pianist; has also composed a fairly successful opera.