Louis Ganne

Colombelle

Louis Ganne (1862 -1923) was a conductor and composer of French operas, operettas, ballets, and marches. Ganne was born in the Auvergne region of France and grew up in Issy-les-Moulineaux, in the suburbs of Paris. He studied under César Franck and Jules Massenet at the Conservatoire de Paris. He conducted at the Nouveau Théâtre de la Rue Blanche and at the Folies-Bergère, and later led a concert series at the Monte Carlo Casino. Ganne is most recognized today for his popular patriotic marches, 'Le père la victoire' and 'La marche Lorraine'. He is less well known outside his native France, and his many operettas are now rarely performed. His most successful light opera is the circus musical 'Les saltimbanques' (The Acrobats), from 1899.
On the occasion of the 100th anniversary in 2023 of Louis Ganne's death, the Dutch arranger Jos van de Braak has made an arrangement of the 'Air de Ballet' from 'Colombelle'.