Paul Taffanel - Conductor

Conductor

In addition to his teaching duties, Taffanel became an important opera and orchestra conductor, serving from 1890 to 1906 as chief conductor at both the Paris Opéra and the Société des Concerts du Conservatoire. Previously these positions had been awarded to string players; Taffanel was the first flautist to hold them. Taffanel's duties at the Opera included directing all new productions, among which during his tenure were French premieres of various Wagner operas and Verdi's Otello. At the Societe des Concerts Taffanel championed Camille Saint-Saëns and other contemporary French composers. He also gave the world premiere of Verdi's Quattro Pezzi Sacri. He revised the conservatory's repertoire and teaching methods, putting the music of other, foreign composers, including Bach, back into the institute's repertoire.