Gaston Poulet

Gaston Poulet was a French violinist and conductor, (Paris, 10 April 1892 - Draveil, 14 April 1974. He played an important part in the diffusion of the contemporary music of the first half of the 20th century. His son Gérard Poulet, born in 1938, was also a violinist.

He entered the Conservatoire de Paris in 1904, studying under Lefort and Jean Huré, and winning a first prize in 1910 in violin.

Noticed by Pierre Monteux, Poulet soon became recognized as one of the leading violinists of his generation and was taken on as leader of the orchester for performances by the Ballets Russes. He thus took part in many premieres by the company of Serge Diaghilev.

In 1914 he founded an eponymous string quartet with Henri Giraud (violin), Albert Leguillard (viola)et Louis Ruyssen (cello). He was called up for service during the First World War but after illness was invalided out, and then continued chamber music work with his partners. Their repertoire extended to contemporatry works such as the quartet by Claude Debussy. Poulet was then offered the creation of the violin sonata by Debussy, on 5 May 1917 at the salle Gaveau in Paris, accompanied by the composer. This concert, in aid of the Foyer du soldat aveugle, Poulet also played the Symphonie espagnole by Édouard Lalo.

From the 1920s, Poulet slowly reduced his playing in favour of conducting. In 1926 he led the first performance at the salle Pleyel of the Concerts Poulet (later merged with the Concerts Robert Siohan). This orchestral series particularly featured music by young composers, and included premieres of works by Sergei Prokofiev, Florent Schmitt, Albert Roussel, André Caplet and member of groupe des Six. The weekly concerts were held at the Théâtre Sarah Bernhardt up to 1932.

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