DESTOUCHES, ANDR CARDINAL

original name Andr Cardinal (baptized April 6, 1672, Paris, Franced. Feb. 7, 1749, Paris), French opera composer who brought an original touch to the genres of the day. Andr Cardinal was the son of a wealthy Parisian merchant, Etienne Cardinal, Seigneur des Touches et de Guilleville, but he did not take any form of the patronym until 1694, after which he was known as Destouches. He was educated by the Jesuits and traveled with a priest to Siam (Thailand) in 168788. Four years later he participated in the siege of Namur as a musketeer, but he left military service in 1694 to pursue a career in music. Destouches' first opera, Iss, was produced in 1697. He wrote nine other operas, and in 1713 he was appointed inspector general of the Royal Academy of Music (i.e., the Paris Opra). In 1728 he became director of that institution, though he abandoned the post two years later. Destouches also wrote two cantatas and several motets.