A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Roche, Edmond

by George Grove

ROCHE, Edward [App. p.773 "Edmond"], born at Calais Feb. 20, 1828, died at Paris Dec. 16, 1861, began life as a violin player, first as Habeneck's pupil at the Conservatoire, but quickly relinquished music for literature. Roche translated the libretto of Tannhäuser under the eys of Wagner himself, for its representation at the Opéra, March 13, 1861, and in a preface to his 'Poésies posthumes' (Paris, Lévy, 1863) M. Sardou has described the terrible persistence with which Wagner kept his translator to his task. (See the article in Pougin's supplement to Fétis.) The opera failed, and Roche's labour was in vain; he had not even the satisfaction of seeing his name in print, in connexion with the work, for even Lajarte (Bibl. Mus. de l'Opera, ii. 230) gives Nuitter as the author of the French words. Besides the poems contained in the volume cited, Roche contributed critical articles to several small periodicals.

[ G. ]

App. p.773

The facts of the case concerning the French translation of 'Tannhäuser' have only recently been made public, in M. Jullien's 'Richard Wagner' (1887). Roche, not knowing German, had recourse to the services of a friend named Lindau, and the translation, when sent to the director of the Opera, was rejected, as it was in blank verse; the necessary alteration into rhyme was made by Roche, Nuitter, and Wagner in collaboration. On this Lindau brought an action against Wagner, to enforce the mention of his name as one of the translators; the case was heard on March 6, 1861, a week before the first representation of the opera, and it was decided that no name but that of Wagner should appear in the books.

[ M. ]