Charles Lecocq

Charles Lecocq was born on 3 June 1832 in Paris (France) into a poor family as one of five children. He suffered from a physical disability from childhood and used crutches throughout his life. During his school years his musical aptitude became evident early; he learned to play the flageolet and later the piano. By the age of sixteen he was already giving piano lessons in order to finance his own studies.
In 1849 Charles Lecocq was admitted to the Paris Conservatoire, where he studied harmony with Francois Bazin, composition with Fromental Halevy, and organ with Francois Benoist. During his studies he won the first prize in harmony in 1850 and later distinctions in counterpoint and organ. Financial necessity forced him to leave the Conservatoire prematurely in 1854 so that he could support his family by teaching piano and working as an accompanist for dance classes.
His professional career began after he shared first prize with Georges Bizet in an operetta competition organized by Jacques Offenbach in 1856. His winning work, Le Docteur Miracle, was performed at the Theatre des Bouffes-Parisiens in 1857 and brought him his first public recognition. During the following decade he composed for various theatres while continuing to earn his living through teaching and accompanying.
Around 1870 Charles Lecocq moved his professional activity partly to Brussels, where several of his works were staged. There he achieved major successes with Les cent vierges (1872) and La Fille de Madame Angot (1872), the latter later receiving a long run in Paris beginning in 1873. Further operettas followed in rapid succession, including Girofle-Girofla (1874), La petite mariee (1875), Le petit duc (1878), Le jour et la nuit (1881), and Le coeur et la main (1882). In addition to operettas and operas-comiques, Charles Lecocq composed songs, dances such as polkas and mazurkas, and later stage works including the opera Plutus (1886) and the ballet Le cygne (1899). 
Charles Lecocq received official recognition from the French state when he was appointed Chevalier of the Legion d’honneur in 1874 and promoted to Officier in 1900. 
Charles Lecocq died on 24 October 1918 in Paris (France).

In my possession is the autograph manuscript of the song "Berceuse a 2 voix - Rondel" by Charles Lecocq. The work is scored for 2 voices and piano and was composed in 1907 on a text by Jeanne Luciole.