Gustave Doret was a Swiss composer and maestro. Although he took violin and theory lessons while he was still at school, he began to study natural science in Lausanne. In 1887, he decided to pursue a musical career, while studying in Berlin and Paris. His main teachers were French composer Jules Massenet and Belgian violinist Martin Marsick. In addition to Massenet, he was particularly influenced by French composers Camille Saint-Saëns and César Franck. From 1893-95 he was the second maestro at the Concerts d’Harcourt, while in 1907 he conducted the orchestra of the Opéra Comique at Paris. Later he held courses at the conservatory in Genève and acted as musical correspondent in Paris for the German newspaper “Berliner Tagblatt”. In 1905 and 1927, Doret wrote the music for the Fête des Vignerons. His 1990 catalogue lists more than 400 compositions including cantatas, oratorios, stage and chamber music. He was appointed Officer of the Legion of Honor.
Like his teacher Jules Massenet Doret was a traditional composer and despised the new trends in music in the early 20th century. Like the French composer and Olympian Max d’Ollone, he attended the 1906 Consultative Conference for the Arts, Literature and Sports convened by Pierre de Coubertin. At the time of his participation in Stockholm in 1912, he wrote mainly stage works. In 1924 and 1928 he was a member of the jury for the music competitions.
Switzerland