Jean Françaix

Jean René Désiré Françaix, born on 23 May 1912 in Le Mans, was a renowned French neoclassical composer, pianist, and orchestrator. Encouraged by his musicologist father and vocalist mother, Françaix began composing at six and was notable for his vibrant style and prolific output. He studied at the Conservatoire of Le Mans and the Paris Conservatory, premiering his first works in the early 1930s. His diverse works include ballets, chamber music, and film scores, often featuring the piano. Françaix continued composing actively throughout his life, receiving the Officier de la Légion d'honneur in 1991, until his death in Paris on 25 September 1997.