Pierre Fournier facts for kids
Pierre Léon Marie Fournier (born June 24, 1906 – died January 8, 1986) was a famous French cellist. People called him the "aristocrat of cellists" because he played with such elegant style and produced a powerful, beautiful sound.
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Pierre Fournier's Life
Early Life and Musical Start
Pierre Fournier was born in Paris, France. His father was a general in the French Army. Pierre's mother first taught him to play the piano.
However, when he was a child, he had a mild case of polio. This made it hard for him to move his feet and legs well. Because of this, he found it difficult to use the piano pedals. So, he decided to switch to playing the cello instead.
Becoming a Professional Cellist
Pierre started his cello training with Odette Krettly. Later, he studied with André Hekking and Paul Bazelaire. He was a very talented student. In 1923, at just 17 years old, he graduated from the Paris Conservatory.
People praised him as "the cellist of the future." They admired his amazing skill and how well he used his bow. From 1925 to 1929, he played in the Krettly Quartet. This group was led by Robert Krettly, who was Odette's brother.
Touring and Recordings
Fournier became widely known in 1925 after playing with the Concerts Colonne Orchestra. Soon, he began touring all over Europe. He performed with many of the most famous musicians of his time.
He recorded the complete chamber music (music for small groups of instruments) by Brahms and Schubert for the BBC. Sadly, these early recordings were on special discs that wore out before they could be saved.
However, his recordings of the Bach cello suites are still considered some of the best ever made. He also recorded cello sonatas by Beethoven and Elgar's Cello Concerto. These recordings are now available on CD.
Teaching and Later Career
Pierre Fournier also shared his musical knowledge with others. He taught at the École Normale de Musique in Paris. He also taught at the Paris Conservatoire from 1937 to 1949.
In 1948, he made his first tour of the United States. He performed in New York and Boston and was very well received.
In the 1950s, he toured South America. He often performed with his friend Alfredo Rossi, who was a pianist.
After 1956, Fournier moved to Switzerland, where he made his home. However, he always remained a French citizen. Two famous composers, Bohuslav Martinů and Francis Poulenc, dedicated their cello pieces to him.
In 1963, he was honored with membership in the Legion of Honour. This is a very important award in France. He continued to perform in public until two years before he passed away at age 79. He also taught cello privately at his home in Geneva. Some of his students included famous cellists like Julian Lloyd Webber.
Pierre's son, Jean-Pierre, became a pianist. He performed under the name Jean Fonda.
Fournier's Cellos
Pierre Fournier played on three special cellos during his career. One was made by Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume in 1863. Another was made by Matteo Goffriller in 1722.
For the last 18 years of his career, he played a rare cello made by Charles Adolphe Maucotel in 1849. He made all his famous recordings using this Maucotel cello.
Awards and Recognitions
Pierre Fournier received several important awards for his musical achievements:
Grand Prix du Disque
- Pierre Fournier and Rafael Kubelik won for their recording of Antonin Dvorak's Cello Concerto. This recording was released in 1955.
Grammy Award for Best Chamber Music Performance
- In 1976, Pierre Fournier, Arthur Rubinstein, and Henryk Szeryng won for their recording of Schubert's Trios (No. 1 and No. 2).
- In 1975, the same trio (Pierre Fournier, Arthur Rubinstein, and Henryk Szeryng) won for their recording of Brahms's complete Trios and Schumann's Trio No. 1.
See also
In Spanish: Pierre Fournier para niños
