Mathieu Dufour is principal flute
of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, a position he has held since 1999. Before
coming to Chicago, he was principal flute solo of the Paris National Opera
Orchestra from 1996 to 1999. Prior to his appointment there, he served as
principal flute solo of the Orchestra National du Capitole de Toulouse for
three years.
Dufour began his flute studies at
the age of 8 with Madeleine Chassang at the National Regional Conservatory in
his hometown of Paris, France. At the age of 14, he was awarded the school’s
gold medal by unanimous vote. He subsequently studied with Maxence Larrieu at
the National Conservatory of Music in Lyon, where he was unanimously awarded
first prize in 1993.
Additional awards include second
prize at the Jean-Pierre Rampal International Flute Competition (1990); third
prize at the International Flute Competition in Budapest (1991); and second
prize at the International Flute Competition in Kobe, Japan (1997).
Dufour frequently appears as
soloist in recitals and concerts around the world. He made his Carnegie Hall
and Lucerne Festival debuts as soloist with the Chicago Symphony under Daniel
Barenboim in 2002, and he also has performed under conductors Pierre Boulez and
Christoph Eschenbach, among others. In January 2010, he appeared as soloist
with the Orchestra and Boulez in Marc-André Dalbavie’s Flute Concerto. He is in
demand as a coach and teacher and has led master classes in Canada, Japan,
Europe and the United States. As a member of the Georges Cziffra and Juventus
foundations, Dufour gave many recitals and concerts as part of their Young
European Soloists Ensemble.
Dufour’s discography includes a
solo recital of sonatas by Prokofiev, Martinů and Hindemith; Poulenc’s complete
chamber music; and the complete works for flute by Roussel.
September 2012
