Role

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Composer

Period

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Modern

Genre

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Opera

 

Marcel Lattès was a French composer and conductor who was born on August 30, 1896, in Marseille, France. He was born into a family of musicians, and his father was a violinist and conductor. Lattès began his musical education at a young age, studying piano and violin with his father. He later studied composition with Vincent d'Indy at the Schola Cantorum in Paris. Lattès began his career as a conductor, leading orchestras in France and abroad. He was appointed conductor of the Orchestre de la Société des Concerts du Conservatoire in Paris in 1929, a position he held until 1939. During this time, he also conducted the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande in Geneva and the Orchestre National de la Radiodiffusion Française. As a composer, Lattès was known for his lyrical and expressive style, which was influenced by the French impressionist composers. His works include orchestral music, chamber music, and vocal music. One of his most famous works is his Symphony in C major, which was premiered in Paris in 1930. The symphony is characterized by its lush harmonies and sweeping melodies, and it has been praised for its emotional depth and beauty. Lattès also composed several operas, including La Vénus au Phacochère, which was premiered at the Opéra-Comique in Paris in 1939. The opera is based on a play by Alfred Jarry and tells the story of a man who falls in love with a statue of Venus. The music is characterized by its colorful orchestration and lyrical vocal writing. In addition to his work as a composer and conductor, Lattès was also a teacher. He taught composition at the Conservatoire de Paris from 1941 to 1966, and his students included the composer Henri Dutilleux. Lattès died on September 13, 1983, in Paris, France. Despite his contributions to French music, his works have been largely forgotten in the years since his death. However, his Symphony in C major and other works continue to be performed and recorded by orchestras and ensembles around the world.

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