Théophile Laforge

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Théophile Laforge

Théophile Édouard Laforge (born March 6, 1863 in Paris ; † October 31, 1918 there ) was a French violinist and violist and the first professor of viola at the Paris Conservatory .

Live and act

Théophile Laforge studied violin at the Paris Conservatory with Eugène Sauzay and finished his studies in 1886 with a first prize. In the same year he got a position as violinist at the Paris Opera , where he became first violist in 1887. From 1887 he was also principal violist in the Orchester de la Société des Concerts du Conservatoire , today's Orchester de Paris .

When the Paris Conservatory first advertised the position of a specialist viola professor in 1894, Théophile Laforge received the appointment and held this position for 22 years until his death, which took place after a brief illness in 1918. During this time Laforge improved the position of viola playing at the conservatory and established the playing of viola literature, some of which was newly written at his instigation, as compulsory pieces for acquiring certain degrees.

More than a dozen works have been dedicated to him, of which the concert piece for viola and piano by George Enescu, composed in 1906, is performed the most. Other pieces are by Hélène Fleury-Roy and Henri Marteau .

His students who finished their studies with a first prize included:

Maurice Vieux succeeded Laforges at the Conservatory in 1918. It is also known that Léon Pascal occupied the position from 1951 to 1969.

Individual evidence

personal data
SURNAME Laforge, Théophile
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Laforge, Théophile Édouard
BRIEF DESCRIPTION French violist and university teacher
DATE OF BIRTH March 6, 1863
PLACE OF BIRTH Paris
DATE OF DEATH October 31, 1918
Place of death Paris