Humor, Wit, and Bowties

The composer and French cultural figure Jacques Ibert (1890-1962) composed 150+ works for solo instruments, chamber ensembles, stage works, orchestra, and films. He sought no boundaries and wrote primarily in an eclectic style, incorporating techniques from the Renaissance through mid-20th Century, often in dramatic and humorous ways. Among the best-known are „Escales for orchestra“, „Le petit âne blanc for piano“, „Concertino da Camera for saxophone“, the opera „Angélique“, and the film „Macbeth“. A recipient of the Prix de Rome, he later served as director of the Académie de France (1937-1960) and as director of the combined Paris opera houses (1955-1956). His work in administrative positions became important contributions to French culture.