Jean Pougnet
Jean Pougnet (20 July 1907 – 14 July 1968) was a Mauritian-born concert violinist and orchestra leader, of British nationality, who was highly regarded in both the lighter and more serious classical repertoire during the first half of the twentieth century. He was leader of the London Philharmonic Orchestra from 1942 to 1945.
Origins and training
Jean Pougnet was born in Mauritius to British parents. His father held a civil service position there, and was an excellent amateur pianist who gave lessons. The family moved to England in 1909, when Jean was two. His musical ability was first recognised by his sister Marcelle, who gave him some violin lessons, and musical influences were also received from his elder brother René, a pianist. They happened to be near neighbours of the distinguished violin teacher Rowsby Woof, who took him on as a private pupil. In 1919 (aged 11) he won a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music and studied there for seven years.[1]
Early career
Pougnet made his first public appearance in his twelfth year at King's Hall,
Like Hugo Rignold, for several years Jean Pougnet made his career in light orchestras and bands as well as through Wigmore Hall classical recitals. He made a virtue of this necessity, recognising its validity and challenges for the professional musician.
Classical opportunities
As opportunity arose during the 1930s, Pougnet left the band scene to concentrate on recitals, concerti, chamber music, broadcasts, recordings, and work in film studios.
At the outbreak of War, Pougnet was chosen to lead the
Post-war: concert and recordings
His career uninterrupted, Pougnet took an important part in post-war music in Britain. Setting off on his solo career in December 1945, he made an impression with the Ernest Bloch violin concerto in a concert at Covent Garden, and gave the English premiere of a concerto by Richard Arnell. Other composers dedicated works to him.[2] During the winter of 1946–1947 he perfected his interpretation of the Delius concerto with Sir Thomas Beecham, their performances at Croydon (27 October 1946) and at the Delius Festival, Royal Albert Hall (8 November 1946), and at the People's Palace in April 1947, spanning the Abbey Road Studios recording sessions of 31 October and 1 November 1946. The wartime recording of this work by Albert Sammons (said to have "the dumbfounding splendour of a sunset"[14]), although preferred by some, was deleted when Pougnet's account was published and this became the standard recording for many years.[15] He performed the concerto at a Prom concert in August 1951 with the LSO.[16]
Many of Pougnet's recordings were made in the late 1940s and early 1950s, during the shift from 78rpm to LP records, with the result that classic performances were often replaced by versions by other performers as the newer technology settled down, and have only recently become more widely available again. His recording of the Bach double concerto with Arthur Grumiaux (Philharmonia Orchestra under Walter Susskind[17]) had a restricted life. The Pougnet, Riddle and Pini trio continued to broadcast, and recorded trios by Beethoven (several volumes), Haydn (op 53 nos 1, 2, and 3),[18] Mozart Divertimento in E flat major K 563,[19] and Dohnányi, Serenade op 10.[20] Pini was meanwhile cellist of the fine Philharmonia Quartet with Henry Holst, Ernest Element and Herbert Downes. Pougnet and Riddle take the second fiddle and viola desks with Pini and Holst in the Philharmonia Quartet's recording of the Mozart 'Hunt' Quartet (No 17 in B flat major).[21]
In the same period Pougnet made his famous recording of
He continued to work in ensemble with modern works, recording the
Late troubles
A promising development began when Pougnet formed a trio with
In his later years he lived in Worthing and taught the violin in schools across West Sussex. He was a founder of the West Sussex County Youth Orchestra and was their conductor for many years. His recording of the Delius Violin Concerto was played at his funeral.
Pougnet played an instrument by
External links
Notes and references
- ^ Donald Brook, Violinists of To-day (Salisbury Square, London, 1949 (2nd printing)), pp. 128–129.
- ^ a b D. Brooks, 1947.
- ^ John White, Lionel Tertis: The First Great Virtuoso of the Viola (Boydell 2006), 88–89.
- ^ See Frank Forman, Acoustic Chamber Music Sets (1899–1926): A Discography (2003) Archived 7 July 2008 at the Wayback Machine.
- ^ Jack Hylton biography website Archived 13 April 2013 at the Wayback Machine.
- ^ a b Dance Band Encyclopedia, London Dance Places.
- ^ See Harry Francis, Jazz Orientated Groups.
- ^ a b c d D. Brooks 1947.
- ^ D. Brook, 1947.
- ^ CD Symposium 1150.
- ^ Columbia Records DX 1014–1016.
- ^ R. Elkin Royal Philharmonic (Rider, London 1946), 182.
- ^ Thomas Russell, Philharmonic Decade (Hutchinson & Co. Ltd., London, New York, Melbourne and Sydney [1944]), p. 111-12. For the orchestra's personnel in 1942–43, see pp. 145–46.
- ^ E. Sackville-West and D. Shawe-Taylor, The Record Guide (Collins, London 1951), p. 200.
- ^ Delius, Concerto for violin, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra cond. Beecham, HMV DB 6369-71 (78rpm), ALP 1890 (LP) (Delius Centenary vol. 2), rec. 1946.
- ^ BBC Promenade Concerts, Prospectus, 57th Season 1951, p.28.
- ^ Columbia 78rpm Records DX 1276–1277
- ^ Westminster W-9033.
- ^ Westminster.
- ^ Westminster WL-5316, rec. 1954.
- ^ Brook 1947, p. 74.
- ^ Parlophone-Odeon 10" LP PMB 1003.
- ^ Decca Records, DL 9561.
- ^ List of Harold Truscott works by Guy Rickards Archived 9 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine.
- ^ Stephen Pettitt, Dennis Brain, A Biography (Robert Hale, 1989).
- ^ Peter Mountain, Scraping a Living: A Life of a Violinist p. 20. [1].