Robert Veyron-Lacroix

Robert Veyron-Lacroix (13 December 1922 in Paris – 3 April 1991 in Garches (Hauts-de-Seine)) was a French harpsichordist and pianist whose post-war career was defined by his musical partnership with the celebrated French flautist Jean-Pierre Rampal.

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 Paris, 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 with Jean-Pierre Rampal. 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.

Teaching

He taught at the Schola Cantorum 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 Disque in 1954, 1955, 1960, 1964, and 1965.

References

• Biography on the Bach Cantatas Web site
• Baker, Biographical Dictionary of 20th Century Classical Musicians, 1997.

External links

• Robert Veyron-Lacroix website (USA)
• Robert Veyron-Lacroix website (France)