Maurice André
Maurice André rightly earned the reputation of being one of the finest trumpet virtuosos from the 20th and 21st centuries. He made numerous concert appearances and recordings and inspired composers like Blacher, Jolivet, and Tomasi to write major works for his instrument.
André was born in the Cévennes district of southern France. Young Maurice began taking vocal instruction (solfeggio) at age ten, but two years later, influenced by his father -- a miner, but also an excellent amateur trumpeter -- began playing the cornet and eventually the trumpet. But he also followed his father's occupation, becoming a miner at age 14. It was not long until his father realized the depth of his son's talent and arranged lessons for him with local teacher Leon Barthélémy. Because his father's wages were meager, André could not consider study at the Paris Conservatory, but through Barthélémy's clever plan, he gained admittance, tuition-free, by first joining a military band. At the age of 18, André began studies at the conservatory under Raymond Sabarich. He quickly demonstrated his immense talents, winning first prizes there for both cornet and trumpet playing in his first two years. In 1953, he began playing professionally in two ensembles, the Lamoureux Concert Association Orchestra and the Radio France Philharmonic Orchestra. André captured first prize in trumpet at the 1955 Geneva International Competition. He left the two orchestral posts in 1960 and 1962, respectively, joining the orchestra of the Opéra Comique in the latter year. In 1963, André was asked to sit on the jury of the Munich International Competition, but entered as a candidate instead and captured first prize, thus establishing himself at the age of 30 as one of the leading young trumpeters in the world. He immediately launched a solo career, which was eventually managed by his wife Liliane. He began making his first recordings around this time, most with the French label Erato. Many of his most important and popular later ones, however, were done for EMI. He also recorded for Deutsche Grammophon, Philips, and smaller labels. Because the repertory for the trumpet was relatively small, he began transcribing -- or engaged others to transcribe -- works for oboe, violin, and other instruments. The Tartini Violin Concerto in D major was one such example, the transcription being done by Jean Thilde. André also began commissioning works from some of the leading composers of the day. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, André maintained a heavy concert schedule, playing with many of the leading orchestras and conductors in Europe and the United States and making numerous recordings. In a 1978 interview, André estimated that he typically played a 180-concert schedule and had made over 220 recordings up to that time. By 2003, André had appeared on over 300 recordings, though he had significantly reduced his concert schedule. While he had recorded music from most periods, he tended to focus on Baroque repertory, such as works by Bach, Telemann, Handel, Torelli, and Albinoni. On many of his concert tours, André's younger brother Raymond, also a trumpeter of some renown, accompanied him. In 1979, the first Maurice André Trumpet Competition was held. Subsequent events in the series took place in 1988, 1997, and 2000. André usually served as chairman of the jury.
© TiVo
-
Les 100 chefs-d'œuvre de la trompette
Classical - Released by Warner Classics on 4 Jan 2007
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Bach: Concertos brandebourgeois, BWV 1046 - 1051
Maurice André, Jean-Pierre Rampal, Orchestre de Chambre Jean-François Paillard, Jean-François Paillard
Classical - Released by Warner Classics on 1 Jan 1974
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Maurice André: Le trompettiste du siècle
Maurice André, André Jolivet, Orchestre Philharmonique de l'O.R.T.F
Classical - Released by Original Master Tape on 1 Nov 1993
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Le meilleur d'une vie
Classical - Released by Warner Classics on 7 Apr 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Maurice André Edition - Volume 1 ([2009 REMASTERED])
Classical - Released by Warner Classics International on 1 Mar 2009
The Qobuz Essential Discography16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Trumpet & Organ
Maurice André, Jane Parker-Smith, Alfred Mitterhofer, Hedwig Bilgram
Classical - Released by Warner Classics on 1 Aug 2005
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Maurice André Edition - Volume 2 ([2009 REMASTERED])
Classical - Released by Warner Classics International on 1 Mar 2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Bolling: Toot Suite
Classical - Released by Sony Classical on 1 Jan 1981
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Favourite Concertos: Telemann, Vivaldi, Haydn, Mozart...
Classical - Released by Warner Classics on 28 Apr 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Grandes orgues et fanfares à Notre-Dame (Stereo Version)
Pierre Cochereau, Maurice André, Armand Birbaum
Miscellaneous - Released by BNF Collection on 1 Jan 1962
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Telemann: 2 Concerti in D Major & Ouverture-Suite in C Major (Mono Version)
Saar Chamber Orchestra, Karl Ristenpart, Maurice André
Miscellaneous - Released by BNF Collection on 1 Jan 1961
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Maurice André Plays Trumpet Concerts
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 1 Jan 1986
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Trumpet Concertos etc.
Classical - Released by Warner Classics on 1 May 1999
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 - Haydn, Telemann & Torelli: Trumpet Concertos
Maurice André, Philharmonia Orchestra, Riccardo Muti
Classical - Released by Warner Classics on 1 Jan 1985
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Maurice André: A Portrait
Classical - Released by Warner Classics on 21 May 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Vivaldi / Torelli / Telemann / Viviani / Handel: Baroque Trumpet Concertos
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 1 Jan 2000
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Noël !
Maurice André, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Michel Legrand
Classical - Released by Warner Classics on 1 Jan 1998
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
La Trompette Baroque: Albinoni-Telemann-Bach
Classical - Released by Universal Music Division Decca Records France on 1 Jan 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Maurice André Edition - Volume 3 ([2009 REMASTERED])
Classical - Released by Warner Classics International on 1 Mar 2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
50 Best Maurice André
Classical - Released by Warner Classics on 20 Sep 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Baroque Trumpet Concertos
Classical - Released by Warner Classics on 6 Sep 2004
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo