Role

:

Composer Conductor  

Country

:

France

Birth

:

May 21, 1933 in Alès, France

Death

:

February 25, 2012 in Urrugne, France

Period

:

Contemporary

Genre

:

Concerto

 

Maurice André was a French classical trumpet player who was born on May 21, 1933, in Alès, France. He was the son of a miner and grew up in a working-class family. André began playing the trumpet at the age of 12 and quickly showed a natural talent for the instrument. He studied at the Paris Conservatory and won first prize in trumpet in 1953. André's career as a professional musician began in 1955 when he joined the orchestra of the Paris Opera. He quickly gained a reputation as one of the finest trumpet players in France and began to perform as a soloist. In 1963, he was appointed principal trumpet of the Orchestre National de France, a position he held for 20 years. André's career as a soloist took off in the 1960s and 1970s. He performed with many of the world's leading orchestras, including the Berlin Philharmonic, the London Symphony Orchestra, and the New York Philharmonic. He also performed with many of the world's leading conductors, including Herbert von Karajan, Leonard Bernstein, and Sir Georg Solti. One of André's most famous performances was his rendition of Johann Nepomuk Hummel's Trumpet Concerto in E-flat major. He recorded the piece in 1976 with the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, conducted by Sir Neville Marriner. The recording became a best-seller and helped to popularize the trumpet as a solo instrument. André was also a prolific recording artist. He recorded over 300 albums during his career, including many solo albums and collaborations with other musicians. He was particularly known for his recordings of Baroque music, including works by Bach, Handel, and Vivaldi. In addition to his performing career, André was also a respected teacher. He taught at the Paris Conservatory and at the National Superior Conservatory of Music and Dance in Lyon. Many of his students went on to have successful careers as trumpet players. André received many awards and honors during his career. In 1982, he was awarded the Legion of Honor, the highest award in France. He was also awarded the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Order of Arts and Letters by the French government. In 2003, he was awarded the Polar Music Prize, one of the most prestigious music awards in the world. André continued to perform and record well into his 70s. He retired from performing in 2004 but continued to teach and mentor young musicians. He died on February 25, 2012, at the age of 78. Maurice André was one of the greatest trumpet players of the 20th century. His virtuosic playing and his dedication to the trumpet helped to elevate the instrument to new heights. He will be remembered as a true master of his craft and a great ambassador for classical music.

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