December 22, 1807:
British forces take the Danish island of Saint Thomas (US Virgin Islands).
August 5, 1811:
Charles Louis Ambroise Thomas is born at 13 Rue du Palais in Metz, Empire of France, the son of music teachers.
August 23, 1837:
La double échelle, an opéra comique by Ambroise Thomas (26) to words of Planard, is performed for the first time, at the Théâtre de Nouveautés, Paris. It is the first work of Thomas to be staged.
March 30, 1838:
Le perruquier de la régence, an opéra comique by Ambroise Thomas (26) to words of Planard and Dupont, is performed for the first time, at the Théâtre des Nouveautés, Paris.
January 28, 1839:
La gipsy, a ballet by Ambroise Thomas (27), François Benoist, and Marco Aurelio Marliani, to a scenario by Saint-Georges after Cervantes, is performed for the first time, at the Paris Opéra.
May 6, 1839:
Le panier fleuri, an opéra comique by Ambroise Thomas (27) to words of de Leuven and Brunswick, is performed for the first time, at the Théâtre de Nouveautés, Paris.
February 24, 1840:
Carline, an opéra comique by Ambroise Thomas (28) to words of de Leuven and Brunswick, is performed for the first time, at the Théâtre des Nouveautés, Paris.
April 19, 1841:
Le comte de Carmagnola, an opéra by Ambroise Thomas (29) to words of Scribe, is performed for the first time, at the Paris Opéra.
May 10, 1843:
Angélique et Médor, an opéra comique by Ambroise Thomas (31) to words of Sauvage, is performed for the first time, at the Théâtre Favart, Paris.
July 10, 1846:
Betty, a ballet by Ambroise Thomas (34) to a scenario by Mazillier after Duval, is performed for the first time, at the Paris Opéra.
January 3, 1849:
Le Caïd, an opéra comique by Ambroise Thomas (37) to words of Sauvage, is performed for the first time, at the Théâtre Favart, Paris.
April 20, 1850:
Le songe d’une nuit d’été, an opéra comique by Ambroise Thomas (38) to words of Rosier and de Leuven, is performed for the first time, at the Théâtre des Nouveautés, Paris.
March 22, 1851:
Ambroise Thomas (39) is elected to Gaspare Spontini’s (†0) chair at the Institute. Hector Berlioz (47) comes in third.
June 5, 1851:
Raymond, ou Le secret de la reine, an opéra comique by Ambroise Thomas (39) to words of Rosier and de Leuven, is performed for the first time, at the Théâtre Favart, Paris.
October 9, 1851:
Jules Massenet (9) takes his entrance examination at the Paris Conservatoire before a panel of judges including Daniel Auber (69), Fromental Halévy (52), and Ambroise Thomas (40). He is not admitted. See 10 January 1853.
August 10, 1852:
Hommage à Lesueur, a cantata by Ambroise Thomas (41) to words of Praron, is performed for the first time, in Abbeville.
March 30, 1853:
La Tonelli, an opéra comique by Ambroise Thomas (41) to words of Sauvage, is performed for the first time, at the Théâtre Favart, Paris.
April 11, 1855:
La cour de Célimène, an opéra comique by Ambroise Thomas (43) to words of Rosier, is performed for the first time, at the Théâtre Favart, Paris.
December 29, 1856:
A jury of eleven, including Daniel Auber (74), Ambroise Thomas (45), and Charles Gounod (38), announces the first prize in a composition competition sponsored by Jacques Offenbach (37) and the Bouffes-Parisiens. The prize will be shared by Georges Bizet (18) and Charles Lecocq. See 9 April 1857.
January 26, 1857:
Psyché, an opéra comique by Ambroise Thomas (45) to words of Berbier and Carré, is performed for the first time, at the Théâtre Favart, Paris.
November 22, 1857:
Messe solennelle by Ambroise Thomas (46) is performed for the first time, in the Church of Saint-Eustache, Paris.
December 9, 1857:
Le carnaval de Venise, an opéra comique by Ambroise Thomas (46) to words of Sauvage, is performed for the first time, at the Théâtre Favart, Paris.
July 17, 1858:
The French Minister of the Interior appoints a commission to investigate a universal pitch, what this pitch should be, and how to insure it becomes universal. Much of the investigative work will be done by Hector Berlioz (54). Other members include Daniel-François-Esprit Auber (76), Gioacchino Rossini (66), Giacomo Meyerbeer (66), Fromental Halévy (59), and Ambroise Thomas (46).
February 4, 1860:
Le roman d’Elvire, an opéra comique by Ambroise Thomas (48) to words of Dumas (père) and de Leuven, is performed for the first time, at the Théâtre Favart, Paris.
September 28, 1861:
Ambroise Thomas (50) reports to the Académie des Beaux-Arts on behalf of the composers’ section on who should receive the Prix Chartier. He recommends it be divided between Adolphe Blanc, Eugène Sauzay, and Louise Farrenc (57). However, the full membership rejects the recommendation and gives the entire prize to Louise Farrenc.
July 4, 1863:
Jules Massenet (21) wins the First Grand Prix de Rome for his setting of the cantata David Rizzio. Three of the jurors, Daniel Auber (81), Hector Berlioz (59), and Ambroise Thomas (51) are walking through the courtyard of the Louvre after the vote. They find Massenet hiding under a bench. Thomas tells him, “Give Berlioz a hug, you have him to thank for your prize.”
March 25, 1865:
Marche religieuse by Ambroise Thomas (53) is performed for the first time, in Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris.
November 17, 1866:
Mignon, an opéra comique by Ambroise Thomas (55) to words of Barbier and Carré after Goethe, is performed for the first time, at the Théâtre Favart, Paris.
March 9, 1868:
Hamlet, an opera by Ambroise Thomas (56) to words of Barbier and Carré after Shakespeare, is performed for the first time, at the Paris Opéra.
March 11, 1869:
The funeral in memory of Hector Berlioz takes place at L’Église de la Trinité, Paris. The procession to the church is led by Adolphe Sax who directs the National Guard band in Berlioz’ Symphonie funèbre. Illustrious attenders include Daniel Auber (87), Ambroise Thomas (57), and Charles Gounod (50). The music features works of Christoph Willibald Gluck (†81), Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (†77), Ludwig van Beethoven (†41), Luigi Cherubini (†26), and the Hostias from Berlioz’ own Requiem. The mortal remains of Louis-Hector Berlioz are laid to rest in Montmartre next to those of his two wives, Harriet Smithson and Marie Recio.
April 22, 1874:
Gille et Gillotin, an opéra by Ambroise Thomas (62) to words of Sauvage, is performed for the first time, at the Théâtre Favart, Paris.
March 3, 1875:
Carmen, an opéra comique by Georges Bizet (36) to words of Meilhac and Halévy after Mérimée, is performed for the first time, at the Théâtre Favart, Paris. Present are Ambroise Thomas (63), Charles Gounod (56), Léo Delibes (39), Jacques Offenbach (55), Jules Massenet (32) and Vincent d’Indy (23). The work is not a success but will produce a good reception on the second night. Reviews are mixed. Carmen will enjoy 48 performances but the hall will never be filled.
June 5, 1875:
A funeral for the remains of Georges Bizet is held at the Montmartre church of La Trinité attended by 4,000 people. Among the pallbearers are Ambroise Thomas (63) and Charles Gounod (56). The earthly remains of the composer are laid to rest in the Cimetière Père-Lachaise.
June 13, 1875:
Hommage à Boieldieu, a cantata for male chorus, brass, and woodwinds by Ambroise Thomas (63), is performed for the first time, in Rouen.
July 26, 1878:
Edward MacDowell (17) participates in his first concours at the Paris Conservatoire before a committee which includes Henri Herz (75), Camille Saint-Saëns (42), and Ambroise Thomas (66). His prepared piece goes well, but his sight-reading from manuscript is a disaster when he mistakenly plays the piece in minor, abruptly switching to major in the middle when he realizes his mistake. Among the other pianists is Claude Debussy (15).
February 20, 1879:
Les béatitudes, an oratorio by César Franck (56) to words of the Bible adapted by Colomb, is performed for the first time, in the composer’s Paris apartment with piano accompaniment. Franck sprained his wrist yesterday and the piano part is played by his student, Vincent d’Indy (27). Some who promised to come, including Jules Ferry, Minister of Education, Olivier Halanzier, director of the Opéra, and Ambroise Thomas (67), fail to show. Édouard Lalo (56) is there as a critic. The listeners leave one by one during the performance and only a few friends of Franck remain at the conclusion. See 15 June 1891.
October 7, 1880:
A funeral in memory of Jacques Offenbach is held at the Church of the Madeleine attended by a host of artistic Paris, including Ambroise Thomas (69), Johann Strauss (54), and Jules Massenet (38). Offenbach’s earthly remains are laid to rest in the Montmartre Cemetery.
April 14, 1882:
Françoise de Rimini, an opéra by Ambroise Thomas (70) to words of Barbier and Carré after Dante, is performed for the first time, at the Paris Opéra.
September 8, 1882:
Nadezhda von Meck writes to Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (42) from her country home at Pleshcheyvo near Podolsk, “Yesterday, to my great joy, Achille Debussy (20) arrived. Now I shall gorge myself listening to music, and he’ll bring the whole house to life. He’s a Parisian to his fingertips, a real gamin de Paris, as witty as they come and a brilliant mimic. He takes Gounod (64) and Ambroise Thomas (71) off perfectly, he makes you die laughing.”
June 26, 1889:
La tempête, a ballet fantastique by Ambroise Thomas (77) to a scenario by Barbier and Hansen after Shakespeare, is performed for the first time, at the Paris Opéra.
February 12, 1896:
Charles Louis Ambroise Thomas dies in Paris, Republic of France, aged 84 years, six months, and seven days. His mortal remains will be laid to rest in the Cimitière de Montmartre, Paris.