Paul (de) Choudens, also known under the pseudonym Paul Bérel (5 June 1850 – 7 October 1925), was a French musician, music publisher, poet and librettist.
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Biography
Choudens was born in Paris. In 1888, with his brother Antony, he took over the publishing house established by his father Antoine de Choudens in 1845 and made a fortune in publishing in particular, the music scores of Faust by Gounod and Carmen by Bizet. He was a staunch supporter of Alfred Bruneau, Paul Vidal and André Messager.
As a librettist, he translated and adapted Der Schauspieldirektor by Mozart in collaboration with Arthur Bernède with whom he would write five libretti for the composer Félix Fourdrain.
Libretti
Henri Hirschmann: Lovelace (in collaboration with Jules Barbier)
Pietro Mascagni: Amica
Isidore de Lara: Sanga
Ruggero Leoncavallo: Maïa
Camille Erlanger: L'Aube rouge
Albert Dupuis: La Passion
Xavier Leroux: La Plus forte
Henry Février: Oletta, la fille du Corse