François Rauber (1933-2003)

Biography

The talent of the French composer François Rauber (born January 19th, 1933 in Neufchâteau, France) has expressed itself in many ways: "classical" compositions, music for theater, film and TV; as well as directing symphony orchestras or popular music groups.

He studied piano, music theory, counterpoint, fugue and composition at the Paris Conservatory.

In the "classical" field, he has written about twenty works for orchestra or chamber group. His best known film music includes: "Les Risques du Metier", "Pierrot la Tendresse", "La Bande à Bonnot", "Antoine et Sébastien", "Play-Time", Mon Oncle Sébastien",

"L'Emmerdeur", "Frantz", "Le Far West", "Le Temple du Soleil", "Le Lac au Requin" et al. Added to this are many works for television.

François Rauber has done orchestrations and arrangements for Maurice André, Jean-Pierre Rampal, Pierre Amoyal, Guy Touvron as well popular arrangements for the great singers such as Mouloudji, Juliette Greco, Jeanne Moreau, Anne Sylvestre, Jacques Brel, etc.

He has directed orchestras around the world, from the "Olympia" in Paris to Carnegie Hall in New York, from the Bolshoi in Moscow to the "Comedie Française", from "Grand Echiquier" to the "Champs Elysée". He's also served as an accompanist for soloists such as Augustin Dumay, Barbara Hendricks, Pavarotti, et al.

He has received several awards for his recordings and his works have received important international prizes for composition. In 1979 he was the recipient of the Grand Prize for Light Symphonic Music.

He died in Paris, December 14, 2003