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Pierre FournierFrench cellist and teacher
Date of Birth: 24.06.1906
Country:  France |
Content:
Biography of Pierre Fournier
Pierre Fournier was a French cellist and pedagogue. He was born on June 24, 1906, in Paris, France. At the age of nine, Fournier switched from playing the piano to playing the cello after recovering from poliomyelitis, which made it difficult for him to control the piano pedals. He studied under Robert Krettly for a period of time and quickly achieved significant success. At the age of thirteen, he entered the Paris Conservatory, studying under Paul Bazelaire and André Navarra, and graduated in 1923 with the first prize.
Early Career
After graduating from the conservatory, Fournier worked as a musician in cinemas and was a member of the Krettly Quartet, which performed the first rendition of Gabriel Fauré's String Quartet in 1925. In the same year, he began his career as a soloist and orchestral musician in the Colonne Orchestra. From 1937 to 1939, Fournier taught at the Normal School of Music, succeeding Pablo Casals as the cello professor. His performances during this time caught the attention of the musical community, and in 1943, while already a professor at the Paris Conservatory, he received an invitation from Jacques Thibaud and Alfred Cortot to join their piano trio.
Later Career and Achievements
Four years later, Fournier formed a piano quartet with Joseph Szigeti, William Primrose, and Arthur Schnabel, which toured many European countries and achieved success in the United States. In 1956, Fournier settled in Geneva with his family but did not give up his French citizenship or cease his concert activities. In 1959, he had a successful series of concerts in Moscow. Fournier served as a jury member for various international competitions, including the Third Tchaikovsky International Competition in 1966. In the late 1970s, he resumed his teaching career at a summer school in Zurich, and his last public performance took place in London in 1984.
Contributions and Recognition
Fournier was one of the prominent representatives of the French cello school of the 20th century. Known for his pure, soft tone and virtuosic technique, he performed works from various eras and styles, actively promoting contemporary music. He premiered compositions dedicated to him by composers such as Frank Martin and Francis Poulenc. Fournier collaborated with renowned musicians such as Wilhelm Kempff, Sviatoslav Richter, David Oistrakh, Friedrich Gulda, and others. He twice received the Grammy Award for Best Chamber Music Performance in a Trio with Henryk Szeryng and Arthur Rubinstein (in 1975 and 1976). Fournier's extensive discography includes recordings of all Bach cello suites, Beethoven sonatas, Dvořák's concerto, Richard Strauss' symphonic poem "Don Quixote" conducted by Herbert von Karajan, and many other compositions. In 1963, he was awarded the title of Officer of the Legion of Honor.
