Jean Françaix

Jean Françaix (1912-1997) developed a mature compositional style early and rarely waivered from it. He wrote successfully in every medium: passionate grand operas, especially La Princesse de Cleves; lightly droll ballets (Les demoiselles de la nuit); profound oratorio (L'apocalypse de St. Jean); and affectionate yet playful piano and chamber music. His brilliance at orchestral writing is found in everything from his early Concertino for piano and orchestra to his orchestrations of other composers' music. Françaix's style is fundamentally conservative for the 20th century, but still highly original.