Pugno, (Stéphane) Raoul
Pugno, (Stéphane) Raoul
Pugno, (Stéphane) Raoul , celebrated French pianist and teacher; b. Montrouge, near Paris (of an Italian father), June 23, 1852; d. (while on a concert tour) Moscow, Jan. 3, 1914. He studied at the Paris Cons. with G. Mathias (piano) and Ambroise Thomas (composition). He became music director of the Paris Opéra in 1871, then served as organist (1872–92) and choirmaster (1878–92) at the church of St.-Eugène. He then taught harmony at the Paris Cons. (1892–96), and subsequently was a prof. of piano there (1896–1901). In the meantime he gave numerous recitals, and gradually rose to the rank of a great virtuoso; he appeared in England in 1894, and in America in 1897–98. He was equally remarkable as an ensemble player; his sonata recitals with Ysaye became world famous. Pugno was also a composer, numbering several operas among his WORKS: Ninetta (Paris, Dec. 23, 1882), Le Sosie (Oct. 7, 1887), Le Valet de coeur(April 19, 1888), Le Retour d’Ulysse(Paris , Feb. 1, 1889), La Vocation de Marius (March 29, 1890), etc. Other works include a ballet, La Danseuse de corde (Paris, Feb. 5, 1892), piano pieces, and songs. His score for La Ville morte (after Gabriele d’Annunzio), left incomplete at his death, was finished by Nadia Boulanger.
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire