A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Valentino, Henri
VALENTINO, Henri Justin Armand Joseph, eminent French conductor, born at Lille, Oct. 14, 1787. His father, of Italian origin, was an army-chemist, and intended him for a soldier, but his talent for music was so decided that he was allowed to follow his own bent. At 12 he was playing the violin at the theatre, at 14 was suddenly called upon to supply the place of the conductor, and henceforth made conducting his special business. In 1813 he married a niece of Persuis, the composer, on whose recommendation he became in 1818 deputy-conductor of the Opéra under R. Kreutzer, and in 1820 was rewarded with the reversion of the title of first conductor conjointly with Habeneck. The decree did not take effect till Kreutzer's resignation in 1824, when the two deputies had long been exercising the function of conductor in turn. Amongst the works produced under Valentino's direction between 1827 and 1830, maybe mentioned 'Moïse,' 'La Muette de Portici,' 'Guillaume Tell,' and 'Le Dieu et la Bayadère.' He also held from April 10, 1824, the reversion after Plantade of the post of Maitre de chapelle honoraire to the King, but this he lost by the Revolution of 1830, which also brought about changes at the Opéra. Dr. Véron, the new director, inaugurated his reign by cutting down salaries, and Valentino, determined not to sacrifice the musicians who served under him to his own interests, resigned. He soon after succeeded Crémont as chief conductor of the Opéra Comique, an enviable post which he occupied from April 1831 to April 1836. Here he produced 'Zampa,' 'Le Pré aux Clercs,' 'Le Prison d'Edimbourg,' 'Le Châlet,' 'Robin des Bois' ('Der Freischütz'), 'Le Cheval de Bronze,' 'Actéon,' and 'L'Eclair.' On the direction of all these popular works he bestowed a care, zeal, and attention to nuances beyond all praise.
On resigning the Opéra Comique, Valentino settled at Chantilly, but was soon offered the direction of the popular Concerts of classical music. Fascinated by the idea of rivalling the Concerts of the Conservatoire, and spreading the taste for high-class instrumental music, he courageously put himself at the head of the enterprise. The spot selected was the hall at 251 Rue St. Honoré, where Musard had given masked balls and concerts of dance-music, and which was now destined to hear the classical masterpieces interpreted by a first-rate orchestra of 85 players—and all for 2 francs! But the public was not ripe for classical music, and preferred the 1 franc nights and dance-music, under a less eminent conductor. The 'Concerts Valentino,' started in Oct. 1837, came to an end in April 1841, but the name of their founder remained attached to the hall where so many schemes of amusement have failed since then.
Valentino then retired to Versailles, and lived in obscurity for 24 years. He was indeed asked in 1846 to return to the Opéra, but declined. He had married again, and the last few years of his life were passed in the midst of his family and a few intimate friends. He died at Versailles Jan. 28, 1865, in his 78th year.
[App. p.806 "add that he came to London in 1839, and gave concerts at the Crown and Anchor Tavern. [See vol. iii. p. 40b.]"]