Théophile Laforge

Who was Théophile Laforge?

Théophile Édouard Laforge was a French violist and first professor of viola at the Conservatoire de Paris.

Laforge studied violin at the Conservatoire de Paris with Eugène Sauzay and was awarded first prize in 1886. From 1883, he was a violinist at the Opéra de Paris and in 1887 became principal violist. Furthermore, from 1887 he was viola soloist with the Orchestre de la Société des Concerts du Conservatoire, now the Orchestre de Paris.

In 1894, he was selected as the first professor of viola of the Conservatoire de Paris. Indeed, 99 years after the implementation of the violin and cello programs, a class entirely reserved for viola players was created. Laforge devoted himself to his post until his death after a short illness in 1918.

During his career at the Conservatoire, Théophile Laforge initiated works for viola from composers of the time, also setting them as a requirement in partial fulfillment of a degree. More than a dozen works would be dedicated to him as well, of which the Concertpiece by George Enescu is the most widely performed.

In his 22 years of teaching, Laforge created a generation of new violists; notable students include Maurice Vieux, Henri Casadesus, Louis Bailly, Paul-Louis Neuberth and Pierre Monteux.