Marcel Tabuteau

Soloist of the Orchestra of Philadelphia and professor with the institute Curtis, Marcel Tabuteau (July 2nd 1887 - January 4th 1966) is a hautboïste French considered as the founder of the American school of the oboe.

Born with Compiegne in the Oise where his/her father was clock and watch maker, it begins its musical training… with the violin. The local orchestra lacking wind instrument, it moves towards the oboe and quickly it is allowed with the Conservatoire of Paris in the class of Georges Gillet. It obtains the first price in 1904, at 17 years.

In this beginning of the 20th century, the big cities of the the United States create their large symphony orchestras and recruit young instrumentalists in the whole Europe. In 1905, Walter Damrosh engages Marcel Tabuteau like Cor anglais solo of the Symphony orchestra of New York. Then he plays under the direction of Toscanini or of Mahler to the Metropolitan Opera. But, in 1915, it is Leopold Stokowski which signs its contract to him with the Orchestre of Philadelphia, doing of him one of the musicians of orchestra best paid until its retirement in 1954. During these almost 40 years, it will create works of Bartok, Hindemith, Granados, Britten, Rachmaninoff, Martinů, Schönberg, Varèse, taking part in the first stereophonic recordings such as for example the Fantasia of Walt Disney.

Invited by his friend Pablo Casals, it takes part in the Festival of Prades occurring and recording with Isaac Stern, Paul Tortelier or Marcel Mule.

Its brightest activity is without any doubt teaching: professor of oboe and Chamber music to the Curtis Institute off Music of Philadelphia during about thirty year, it formed all principal the hautboïstes American soloists (John de Lancie, John Mack, Joseph Robinson, Marc Lifschey, Harold Gomberg, Ralph Gomberg, Robert Bloom, Al Genovese, Laila Storch…) . October 15th, 1937, it receives the medal of the Légion of honor.

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