What is Louis Antoine Jullien?
[[File:Louis-Antoine Jullien.jpg|thumb|right|Louis Antoine Jullien]] '''Louis Antoine Jullien''' (23 April 1812 – 14 March 1860) was a [[France|French]] [[conducting|conductor]] who was famous for his showmanship. ==Life== ===Early years=== Jullien was born in [[Sisteron]], in the French [[Alps]]. At his [[baptism]] he had 36 [[godfather]]s and was given 36 [[given name|Christian name]]s. He studied at the [[Paris Conservatoire]]. He was a good [[musician]], but mostly he enjoyed popular [[dance music]]. He conducted a [[band]], but had to leave [[Paris]] because he owed people a lot of [[money]]. ===Career in England=== He went to [[London]] where he formed a good [[orchestra]]. His orchestra played at a series of summer concerts (called ''Concerts d’été''). Later he conducted a series of winter concerts (''Concerts d’hiver''). Although he was a good conductor he was a great showman. He would make a big show of putting on his white [[glove]]s which were given to him on a silver plate. He used a special [[baton]] (conductor’s stick) which had [[jewel]]s in it when he conducted [[Beethoven]]. He wore a white [[waistcoat]] and enormous wrist bands, and he had a huge [[moustache]] and long, black [[hair]]. He would throw himself around when conducting and finish by sinking into a [[velvet]] chair. The audience loved it, especially when he added military bands to his orchestra. He used to conduct facing the audience. He conducted concerts in the London theatres and parks ([[promenade concert]]s). Jullien’s programmes included works by the great composers, e.g. [[Beethoven]] and [[Mozart]], but they were always mixed with light music: [[dance music|dance]]s, [[quadrille]]s, [[march (music)|marches]], etc. He often added lots of extra instruments to the great classics, e.g. when he conducted [[Symphony No. 5 (Beethoven)|Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony]] he added four [[ophicleide]]s, a [[saxophone]] and [[side drum]]s. Jullien travelled to [[Scotland]], [[Ireland]] and [[United States|America]] with his