Rampal, Jean-Pierre

▪ 2000

      French flutist (b. Jan. 7, 1922, Marseilles, France—d. May 20, 2000, Paris, France), was considered the preeminent performer on the instrument in the 20th century. A brilliant virtuoso, he made more than 400 recordings and was credited with restoring the flute to its position as a popular solo instrument. Rampal took lessons from his father, who taught at the local conservatory. He then entered medical school but during World War II, to escape conscription by the Germans, went underground and left Marseilles for Paris. He studied at the Paris Conservatory, where he took a first prize in flute, and at the end of the war began his career. He gave recitals throughout Europe, entered into a long collaboration with the pianist and harpsichordist Robert Veyron-Lacroix, became principal flutist with the Paris Opera, and in the late 1950s made his first tours to the United States and Canada. He made 100–150 appearances a year, both with orchestras and chamber groups and as a soloist. Although he was closely identified with the music of the baroque and classical periods, he also played 20th-century as well as nonclassical and non-Western music. His recording of Claude Bolling's Suite for Flute and Jazz Piano remained on the U.S. Billboard charts for 10 years, and he is considered to have paved the way for what became known as classical crossover. Rampal taught at the Paris Conservatory, and he also took up conducting and became active in recovering and editing forgotten works for the flute. He played a gold-plated instrument made in 1869. His autobiography, Music, My Love, was published in 1989.

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▪ French musician

in full  Jean-Pierre-Louis Rampal 

born Jan. 7, 1922, Marseille, France

died May 20, 2000, Paris

      French flutist who brought the flute to new prominence as a concert instrument and demonstrated the appropriateness of the flute as a solo instrument adaptable to a wide range of music, from Baroque masterpieces and English folk songs to improvised jazz.

      Rampal was the son of a flute teacher but was encouraged to become a doctor, and he attended Marseille Medical School. During World War II he was drafted into a German labour camp, and he abandoned his studies to go underground in Paris. Rampal began taking flute lessons at the Paris Conservatory and garnered attention after winning the school's prestigious competition. After the war he began his career as a flutist in the Vichy Opéra orchestra (1947–51) and later was first flute at the Paris Opéra (1956–62). In 1968 he joined the faculty of the Paris Conservatory. Particularly devoted to chamber music, Rampal founded the French Wind Quintet in 1945 and the Baroque Ensemble of Paris in 1953. In addition to making international concert tours, he edited music by Baroque composers and taught. In later years he took up conducting. His popularity was in large part due to his extensive recording. Rampal gained admiration for his authentic interpretation of 18th-century music, his smooth, cleanly articulated tone, and his mastery of subtle tonal nuance. André Jolivet (Jolivet, André) and Francis Poulenc (Poulenc, Francis) composed works for him. Rampal's autobiography, Music, My Love, was published in 1989.

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