It was the cultural philosopher Walter Benjamin who defined Paris as “the capital of the 19th century’. In its heyday, Paris’s roster of native talent was enriched by figures from abroad who came to enjoy the creative and financial possibilities the great artistic metropolis offered.
From Italy came Rossini and Bellini, both of whom would die there; Donizetti and Verdi were also based in the French capital for substantial periods. The Berlin-born Meyerbeer, who honed his operatic technique in Italy, moved to Paris in 1825 and helped shape the most influential artistic genre of the day – grand opéra. In 1831 Chopin arrived from Poland, remaining until his death in 1849. Wagner set his heart on success in Paris, and his repeated failure left him...
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