Léon Jehin (17 July 1853 - 14 February 1928) was a conductor and composer, especially associated with the opera house in Monte Carlo.[1] He composed the national anthem of Monaco.
Jehin was born in Spa, Belgium. He studied at the conservatoire in Liege and then in Brussels. He was a violinist at La Monnaie in the Belgian capital and conducted at Anvers, Aix-les-Bains, and the Royal Opera House.[1] In 1889, when he was an assistant conductor in Brussels, he succeeded Arthur Steck as the conductor of the Monte Carlo Opera in Monaco, a position he held until his death. His first performance there was of Mireille by Charles Gounod.[2]
In addition to conducting the main repertoire at the Monte Carlo opera, he conducted the premieres of the following operas:
In 1889 he married the mezzo-soprano Blanche Deschamps, with whom he had worked in Brussels.[2]
In 1910, at La Monnaie, Jehin conducted Don Quichotte with the premiere cast and the Monte Carlo orchestra, as well as Ivan le terrible (premiere), and Le vieil aigle by Raoul Gunsbourg.[3] He died in Monaco, aged 74. In 1953, a centennial concert was held in his memory in the Monte Carlo Casino.[1]
Jehin’s compositions include a Hymne à la Charte for soloists, chorus, and orchestra (Monte-Carlo, 1889), Scherzo symphonique (1902), Intermezzo for horn and orchestra (1909), a Marche Inaugurale (for the opening of the Musée Océanographique, 1909), and a Suite symphonique (1921).[1]