Robert Veyron-Lacroix
Encyclopedia
Robert Veyron-Lacroix was a French harpsichordist
and pianist
whose post-war career was defined by his musical partnership with the celebrated French flautist Jean-Pierre Rampal
.
, winning first prizes for piano, harpsichord, harmony, counterpoint, accompaniment, solfeggio, and theory.
He was a regular performer at numerous festivals in Europe and toured Africa, America, and the Far East.
Veyron-Lacroix’s technical assurance and sensitive musicianship helped to create a rewarding partnership in the immediate post-war years. From their first major public recital together—at the Salle Gaveau in Paris in 1949, at a time when whole concerts for flute and piano were unfashionable—they went on to perform together around the world for over thirty years and won many awards for their recordings. In the early 1980s, owing to ill-health, Veyron-Lacroix retired from their partnership, and Rampal forged a new duo with American pianist John Steele Ritter
.
in Paris starting in 1956, and at the Nice International Academy starting in 1959.
He was a professor at the Paris Conservatory from 1967 to 1988.
in 1954, 1955, 1960, 1964, and 1965.
Harpsichordist
A harpsichordist is a person who plays the harpsichord.Many baroque composers played the harpsichord, including Johann Sebastian Bach, Domenico Scarlatti, George Frideric Handel, François Couperin and Jean-Philippe Rameau...
and pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
whose post-war career was defined by his musical partnership with the celebrated French flautist Jean-Pierre Rampal
Jean-Pierre Rampal
Jean-Pierre Louis Rampal was a French flautist. He has been personally "credited with returning to the flute the popularity as a solo classical instrument it had not held since the 18th century."-Early years:...
.
Early life
He was the son of an industrialist and revealed his talent at an early age. He studied with Marcel Samuel-Rousseau and Yves Nat at the Conservatoire de ParisConservatoire de Paris
The Conservatoire de Paris is a college of music and dance founded in 1795, now situated in the avenue Jean Jaurès in the 19th arrondissement of Paris, France...
, winning first prizes for piano, harpsichord, harmony, counterpoint, accompaniment, solfeggio, and theory.
Career
He made his French Radio debut in 1949 and pursued a career as a soloist, in chamber music, and with orchestras.He was a regular performer at numerous festivals in Europe and toured Africa, America, and the Far East.
Veyron-Lacroix’s technical assurance and sensitive musicianship helped to create a rewarding partnership in the immediate post-war years. From their first major public recital together—at the Salle Gaveau in Paris in 1949, at a time when whole concerts for flute and piano were unfashionable—they went on to perform together around the world for over thirty years and won many awards for their recordings. In the early 1980s, owing to ill-health, Veyron-Lacroix retired from their partnership, and Rampal forged a new duo with American pianist John Steele Ritter
John Steele Ritter
John Steele Ritter is an American classical keyboardist and teacher.A graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, he went on to graduate studies at the University of Southern California...
.
Teaching
He taught at the Schola CantorumSchola Cantorum
The Schola Cantorum de Paris is a private music school in Paris. It was founded in 1894 by Charles Bordes, Alexandre Guilmant and Vincent d'Indy as a counterbalance to the Paris Conservatoire's emphasis on opera...
in Paris starting in 1956, and at the Nice International Academy starting in 1959.
He was a professor at the Paris Conservatory from 1967 to 1988.
Awards
Veyron-Lacroix's solo recordings won Grand Prix du DisqueGrand Prix du Disque
The Grand Prix du Disque is the premier French award for musical recordings. The award was inaugurated by l'Académie Charles Cros in 1948 and offers prizes in various categories. The categories vary from year to year, and multiple awards are often made in any one category in the same year...
in 1954, 1955, 1960, 1964, and 1965.