让·普涅 Jean Pougnet

Jean Pougnet (20 July 1907 – 14 July 1968) was a Mauritian-born concert violinist and orchestraleader, of British nationality, who was highly regarded in both the lighter and more serious classical repertoire during the first half of the twentieth century. He was leader of the London Philharmonic Orchestra from 1942 to 1945. As opportunity arose during the 1930s, Pougnet left the band scene to concentrate on recitals, concerti, chamber music, broadcasts, recordings, and work in film studios. His classical reputation in this period is shown in a preserved 'live' recording of the Mozart Sinfonia Concertante with Bernard Shore (principal viola of the BBC Symphony Orchestra) in a Queen's HallPromenade concert of 8 September 1936, under Sir Henry Wood. Pougnet's String Trio, with William Primrose (viola) and Anthony Pini (cello), was broadcasting before the War. (Anthony Pini had recorded with the Pro Arte Quartet during the 1930s and he and Henry Holst were associated withLouis Kentner and Solomon in piano trio recordings during the early 1940s.) With Frederick Riddlereplacing Primrose (permanently) at viola desk, Pougnet's trio recorded the E. J. Moeran (1931) String Trio in G major in May 1941. During the War he continued to tour as a soloist in the provinces, sometimes sharing the platform with Leon Goossens or Anthony Pini. In 1943 (6 November) he performed the Mozart Sinfonia Concertante with Maurice Ward (viola) under Sir Adrian Boult for the Royal Philharmonic Society. At the outbreak of War, Pougnet was chosen to lead the BBC Salon Orchestra, which did much useful work for public morale until it was dissolved in 1942. At this point the London Philharmonic Orchestra, needing a replacement for its leader Thomas Matthews (and in the wake of the destruction of the Queen's Hall together with many of the orchestra's instruments in 1941), gave the position to Pougnet, 'a fastidious player of impeccable taste', though he had limited experience of performing symphonic music. The L.P.O., having close allegiance to Sir Thomas Beecham, had not until then been associated with the Promenade Concerts, but in 1942 Pougnet was immediately called upon to lead the orchestra through many large works in which he had not performed before, with minimal rehearsal, under the direction of Sir Henry Wood, Sir Adrian Boult and Basil Cameron. He met this extraordinary challenge brilliantly. The involvement with the Proms continued in 1943 and in 1944, Sir Henry Wood's Jubilee season. Pougnet having thus led the orchestra through the later years of the War he remained in the position until the end of 1945. <a href="<a href=" https:="" en.wikipedia.org="" wiki="" jean_pougnet'="">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Pougnet'>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Pougnet