Composer and Pianist. Jean Rene Desire Francaix was a prolific composer and pianist, known for writing vibrant music in a neoclassical style. Francaix was a born musician and his gifts were encouraged from an early age by his father, who was Director of the Conservatory of Music at Le Mans, and his mother who taught singing. He composed his first music at the age of six and his earliest published work was in 1922. He studied composition with Nadia Boulanger. Jean Francaix was also an accomplished pianist, winning first prize in piano at the Paris Conservatoire. In 1936, Francaix achieved international success at the Baden-Baden chamber music festival as soloist in his Concertino for Piano and Orchestral. In the years that followed, he composed numerous works in a wide range of genres including operas, ballets, a symphony, concertos, film music and chamber works. Francaix also taught music at the Ecole Normale de Musique in Paris from 1959 to 1962. He performed his own music as well as the works of other composers, notable the Concerto for Two Pianos with Francis Poulenc and with his daughter Claude in his own Concerto for Two Pianos.
Composer and Pianist. Jean Rene Desire Francaix was a prolific composer and pianist, known for writing vibrant music in a neoclassical style. Francaix was a born musician and his gifts were encouraged from an early age by his father, who was Director of the Conservatory of Music at Le Mans, and his mother who taught singing. He composed his first music at the age of six and his earliest published work was in 1922. He studied composition with Nadia Boulanger. Jean Francaix was also an accomplished pianist, winning first prize in piano at the Paris Conservatoire. In 1936, Francaix achieved international success at the Baden-Baden chamber music festival as soloist in his Concertino for Piano and Orchestral. In the years that followed, he composed numerous works in a wide range of genres including operas, ballets, a symphony, concertos, film music and chamber works. Francaix also taught music at the Ecole Normale de Musique in Paris from 1959 to 1962. He performed his own music as well as the works of other composers, notable the Concerto for Two Pianos with Francis Poulenc and with his daughter Claude in his own Concerto for Two Pianos.
Bio by: Rik Van Beveren
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