Charles Philippe Lafont

Charles Philippe Lafont
Charles Philippe Lafont.
Portrait by Pierre-Roch Vigneron.

Charles Philippe Lafont (December 1, 1781 – August 23, 1839) was a French violinist and composer.

Contents

Biography

Born in Paris, he received his first lessons from his mother. He later studied with Rodolphe Kreutzer and Pierre Rode.

He has been characterized as one of the most eminent violinists of the French school.[1] His teachers taught him the classical technique of the Viotti school, which he made more brilliant.[2]

As early as 1792 he toured Europe, including Germany, giving successful concerts.

On the outbreak of the French Revolution he left France, travelling through Europe, to return in 1815. During this time he was chamber violinist to Tsar Alexander I of Russia.

When he returned to France he became first violinist of the royal chamber musicians of Louis XVIII of France and musical accompanist to the Duchess of Berry.

In 1816, he participated in a contest with Niccolò Paganini, in which neither won. However, the contest was held in La Scala, where the audience was more sympathetic to Paganini.

Few of his compositions have survived. In c. 1837, Franz Liszt wrote a Grand Duo concertant sur la Romance de M. Lafont "Le Marin", for violin and piano, S. 128 (revised c. 1849).[3]

He died in an accident in 1839, when a carriage transporting him overturned.

Notes

  1. ^ See Family Tree, under External links
  2. ^ See biography under External links
  3. ^ Grove's Dictionary of Music. 5th ed, 1954., Liszt: Works, p. 276

References

  • Material from the external links below

External links


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