Auric, Georges

Auric, Georges 

Born Feb. 15, 1899, in Lodève, Languedoc. French composer. Member of the Institut de France (1962).

Auric first studied at the Paris Conservatory and then at the Schola Cantorum under V. d’Indy. In 1914, at the age of 15, he made his debut as a composer when his art songs were performed in concerts of the National Music Society. In the 1920’s he was a member of the group known as Les Six. During these years, he was associated with the Diaghilev Ballets Russes, for which he composed the ballets The Sailors (1925) and Pastorale (1926), as well as other ballets. In 1935 he joined the administration of the National Music Federation and participated in the antifascist movement. He is also the composer of popular songs, including Let’s Sing, Girls (lyrics by L. Moussinac), as well as of deeply emotional works, such as Quatre Chants de la France malheureuse (text by L. Aragon, J. Supervielle, and P. Eluard, 1947) and of a cycle of six songs based on poems by P. Eluard. His other works include the ballets The Artist and the Model (1949), Phaedra (1950), and The Room (1955); music for dramatic theater and for cinema, including the film score for A Nous La Liberté (1932); and instrumental chamber works and vocal works.

REFERENCE

Shneerson, G. Frantsuzskaia muzyka XX veka, 2nd ed. Moscow, 1970.