A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Lavenu, Louis

LAVENU, Louis Henry, son of a flautist and music-seller, born in London in 1818. He was a pupil of the Royal Academy of Music, where he studied composition under Bochsa and Potter. Before leaving the Academy he was engaged as a violoncellist at the Opera and the Westminster Abbey Festival of 1834. He was also in business as a music-seller in partnership with his stepfather, Nicholas Mori, the eminent violinist, after whose death, in 1839, he continued the business alone for a few years. During this time he published a few songs and short pianoforte pieces composed by himself. His opera 'Loretta, a Tale of Seville,' words by Bunn, was produced at Drury Lane Nov. 9, 1846, with success. Dissatisfied with his position, Lavenu emigrated to Australia, obtained the post of director of the music at the Sydney Theatre, and died at Sydney, Aug. 1, 1859.

[ W. H. H. ]