Luigini's father was Italian but became a naturalized citizen of France. He was also a conductor and composer of ballets and cantatas. Alexandre won a second prix at the Paris Conservatory for his violin playing and thereafter conducted the orchestra of the Grand-Theatre in Lyons. Like his father, Alexandre composed ballets but also set a number if works in numerous different genres. He wrote comic operas, orchestral music, string quartets, chamber music for piano, piano works, and a number of songs. ~ Keith Johnson, Rovi