Alban Dufourt is a French composer and musicologist who has made significant contributions to the world of contemporary classical music. Born on September 18, 1971, in Paris, France, Dufourt grew up in a family of musicians. His father was a composer and his mother was a pianist, which exposed him to music from a young age. Dufourt began his musical education at the Conservatoire National de Région de Paris, where he studied composition with Gérard Grisey and orchestration with Marius Constant. He later continued his studies at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris, where he earned a degree in composition. Dufourt's music is characterized by its complexity and its use of microtonality, which is the use of intervals smaller than the traditional half-step. He is also known for his use of spectralism, a compositional technique that focuses on the analysis of sound spectra. One of Dufourt's most notable works is his orchestral piece "L'horizon chimérique," which was commissioned by the Orchestre National de France in 2001. The piece is based on a poem by Paul Valéry and is divided into four movements, each of which represents a different aspect of the sea. The piece has been performed by orchestras around the world, including the Berlin Philharmonic and the New York Philharmonic. In addition to his work as a composer, Dufourt is also a musicologist and has written extensively on the music of the 20th century. He has published several books, including "Spectral Music: History and Techniques" and "Musique, pouvoir, écriture." Dufourt has received numerous awards and honors for his work, including the Prix de Rome in 1994 and the Grand Prix de la Musique Symphonique from the Académie Charles Cros in 2002. He has also been a resident composer at several prestigious institutions, including the Villa Medici in Rome and the Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris. Dufourt's music has been performed by some of the world's leading orchestras and ensembles, including the London Symphony Orchestra, the Ensemble Intercontemporain, and the Arditti Quartet. He has also collaborated with several prominent conductors, including Pierre Boulez and Simon Rattle. One of Dufourt's most recent works is his opera "Le ravissement de Psyché," which premiered at the Opéra National de Paris in 2018. The opera is based on the myth of Psyche and Cupid and features a libretto by Olivier Py. The piece has been praised for its innovative use of technology, including the use of virtual reality and 3D sound. Overall, Alban Dufourt is a highly respected figure in the world of contemporary classical music. His innovative compositions and contributions to musicology have earned him numerous accolades and have cemented his place as one of the most important composers of his generation.

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