An outstanding French composer, Victor Masse studied with Jaques Halevy at the Paris Conservatoire. In 1844, Masse won the prestigious Prix de Rome for his cantata Le rénégat de Tanger. Masse wrote more than 20 operas, including La chanteuse voilée andGalathée. Masse got triumphal with the opera comique,Les noces de Jeannette. Masse’s last major work, Une Nuit de Cléopâtre, debuted after the composer’s death.