Baron Frédéric Alfred d'Erlanger was an Anglo-French composer, banker, and patron of the arts, born in Paris on May 29, 1868. His family background was diverse: his father, Baron Frédéric Émile d'Erlanger, was a German head of a French banking house, while his mother, Mathilde (née Slidell), was American. In his youth, he moved to London, where he later became a British citizen and lived until his death on April 23, 1943. d'Erlanger began his musical training in Paris under Anselm Ehmant, his only teacher. At just 20 years old, he published his first work, a collection of songs. Shortly afterward, in 1886, he moved to London to work in his father's bank with his older brother, Baron Emile Beaumont d'Erlanger. As a composer, d'Erlanger created works of diverse genres. His operas achieved particular renown, including "Jehan de Saintré" (premiered in Aix-les-Bains on August 1, 1893, and later in Hamburg in 1894), "Inès Menso" (which he presented under the pseudonym Ferd. Regnal at Covent Garden in London on July 10, 1897, and later in Germany), "Tess" (based on Thomas Hardy's novel, performed at the Teatro di San Carlo in Naples on April 7, 1906, and at Covent Garden on July 14, 1909, both times conducted by Ettore Panizza), and "Noël," which premiered at the Opéra-Comique in Paris on December 28, 1910. His musical output also includes remarkable instrumental works such as the Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. His works include the "Andante Symphonique" for cello and orchestra, Op. 17, a ballad for cello and orchestra, the "Concerto Symphonique" for piano and orchestra, and various orchestral works such as "Sursum Corda! Prélude pour grand orchestre" and the "Prélude Romantique." In the field of chamber music, he composed, among other works, a piano quintet and the "Poëme in D major." He also created the ballet music "Les cent baisers."
