Reynaldo Hahn Echenagucia
(1875 - 1947) Venezuela - France
Pianist, singer and composer
 Born in Caracas, he composed a song-cycle from Verlaine's poems, which became fashionable. Reynaldo was a refined young man, a South American Jewish with dark skin and eyes, intelligent and charming. He had natural distinction of mind and manners. He was a pupil of Saint-Saens. He was for a time the boyfriend of Proust.
Reynaldo wrote the musical settings to the poems in Proust's first book, Les plaisirs et les jours. In time he became the leading composer of theatre music; he also composed operas and chamber music, though his songs remain his best work, Chanson grises, Chanson latines, and Chanson éspagnoles.
From: A.L.Rowse, Homosexuals History, Barnes & Noble, 1979
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