Francis Poulenc 1899 – 1963

Biography

Francis Poulenc was born on January 7, 1899, in Paris, where he would spend much of his life surrounded by the artistic and cultural richness of the French capital. As a composer and pianist, he became one of the notable musical voices of his era, contributing significantly to twentieth-century classical music through both his performance work at the keyboard and his prolific compositions.

Throughout his career, Poulenc dedicated himself to the dual pursuits of performing and creating music. His work as a pianist allowed him to interpret his own compositions and those of others, while his output as a composer enriched the repertoire of his time. Living and working in Paris afforded him connection to the vibrant intellectual and artistic communities that flourished there during the early and middle decades of the twentieth century.

On January 30, 1963, at the age of sixty-four, Poulenc died in Paris following a myocardial infarction. His passing marked the end of a creative life devoted to music. He was laid to rest at Père Lachaise Cemetery in the Ménilmontant district of Paris, a final resting place befitting a musician whose life and work had been so deeply rooted in the city of his birth.