Born in France in 1878, André Caplet was to win the highly coveted Prix de Rome with his Cantata, Myrrha while at the Paris Conservatoire. His attention, however, was drawn to conducting, and he subsequently worked extensively with the Lamoureux and Pasdeloup orchestras in Paris. From 1910 to 1914 he was conductor of the Boston Opera, but volunteered for the French army at the outbreak of the First World War. By the time of the armistice his health was severely affected, and he was unable to return to conducting. Concentrating on composing, he led a quiet life, producing highly acclaimed works that placed him among the most admired French composers of the inter-war years. Le Miroir de Jésus, was completed in 1923, and is scored for mezzo, chorus, harp and strings. It came as a result of Caplet's interest in Christian mysticism, and is a mixture of fervent Christianity and the subtle orchestral colours that were to characterise his later works.