Have you ever heard the strains of Gounod’s “Ave Maria”? Here, at 17 Morden Road, marked by a simple blue plaque, you stand close to where that celebrated composer, Charles Gounod, sought refuge. The Charles Gounod Blue Plaque, installed in 1961, commemorates his brief stay at this very spot in 1870. Fleeing the Franco-Prussian War, Gounod arrived in England with his family in September 1870. While his wife and mother returned to France the following year, Gounod remained in London. He initially resided here, at what was then known as Shirley Lodge, from early October to mid-November 1870. This large villa, originally built for Pelham Richardson, provided a temporary haven for the composer. Though Gounod spent more time in London at Tavistock House, this Blackheath residence holds a piece of his history. The Charles Gounod Blue Plaque quietly marks this period of upheaval and transition in the composer’s life. While “Faust” may be his most famous opera, it’s interesting to note that extracts from his “Messe solonelle” were first performed in London in 1851, years before his operatic success. So, as you stand before this understated plaque, imagine Gounod, fresh off his escape from war-torn France, finding temporary solace in this quiet corner of London.
Центральный дом работников искусств
Step through the grand wooden doors of the Central House of the Workers of Art, and you’ll be transported to