Charles Gounod was a French composer of the Romantic era, born and largely based in Paris, with formative years in Rome and later residence in England from 1870 to 1874. He is best known for his operas, particularly Faust (1859) and Roméo et Juliette (1867), and also produced extensive sacred music, including numerous masses and the Messe solennelle de Sainte Cécile, along with two symphonies and over 100 songs. He died in 1893 at Saint-Cloud, three days after suffering a stroke while at the organ of his local church.

Gounod is credited with bringing a new lyrical tenderness and refined craftsmanship to French opera, and his influence carried forward to later French composers including Massenet, Fauré, and Debussy. While much of his sacred music fell out of fashion during the twentieth century, Faust and Roméo et Juliette remain firmly established in the international opera repertoire.

Sources:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Gounod