Louis Fourestier

Louis Fourestier studied at Conservatoire de Paris and Conservatoire à rayonnement régional de Montpellier. Patrick Fournillier and Michel Decoust are recorded as having studied under Louis Fourestier. The recorded working language is French. Residence is recorded at Boulogne-Billancourt. Distinctions recorded are Officer of the Legion of Honour and Prix de Rome.

Fourestier was born in Montpellier, where he studied the cello at the local conservatory. He entered the Conservatoire de Paris in 1909 and was a pupil of Alexandre Guilmant, Paul Dukas, André Gedalge, Paul Vidal, Xavier Leroux (harmony) and Vincent d'Indy (conducting), winning prizes for harmony and counterpoint. In 1924, he won the Prix Rossini for his cantata Patria. This was followed by the Prix de Rome in 1925 for another cantata, La mort d'Adonis, and in 1927 the First Grand Prix for the symphonic poem Polynice.

Returning from Rome, Fourestier was engaged as a cellist at the Opéra Comique. His conducting career commenced when, in 1927, he took charge of the orchestra for a performance of Pietro Mascagni's Cavalleria rusticana, and he was appointed principal conductor later that year, leaving the company in 1932. He subsequently conducted various orchestras in Paris and elsewhere (Angers, Cannes and Vichy). In 1928 he co-founded the Orchestre Symphonique de Paris along with Ernest Ansermet and Alfred Cortot, before giving way to Pierre Monteux. In 1938 he succeeded Philippe Gaubert as principal conductor at the Paris Opera, remaining there until 1965. After World War II, Fourestier appeared as guest conductor in Spain, Germany, Italy and Switzerland. From 1946 to 1948 he conducted thirty-two performances of Lakmé, Carmen, Faust, Manon and Louise at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City and on tour. Among the singers were Licia Albanese, Lily Pons, Dorothy Kirsten, Bidu Sayão, Risë Stevens, Jennie Tourel, Jussi Björling, John Brownlee, Mack Harrell, Jerome Hines, Raoul Jobin, Robert Merrill, Ezio Pinza and Ramón Vinay.

Louis Fourestier is recorded with the occupation music director. Recorded as conductor, cellist, composer, music director and musician. Recorded at birth as Louis Félix André Fourestier.