Charles Gounod was a French composer, best known for his operas Faust and Roméo et Juliette. He was born on June 17, 1818 in Paris, France. He began his musical education at a young age and went on to study at the Paris Conservatory. Gounod's early works were heavily influenced by his devout Catholic faith, and he composed a number of masses and other religious music. Later in his career, he turned more toward secular music, and wrote some of his most famous works for the stage. Gounod died on October 17, 1893 in Saint-Cloud, France.
