Paul Dukas

Paul Dukas was a French composer, critic, and teacher born in Paris in 1865. He studied at the Paris Conservatoire and became known for his meticulous craftsmanship and relatively small but influential output. His most famous work, the symphonic poem The Sorcerer's Apprentice, gained worldwide recognition after its use in Disney's Fantasia. Dukas also composed the opera Ariane et Barbe-bleue and the ballet La Péri. He taught at the Paris Conservatoire, mentoring future composers including Olivier Messiaen. Dukas destroyed many of his own manuscripts and ceased composing publicly after 1912, though he continued teaching until his death in 1935.