Planté, François

1839-1898

 

French pianist; born at Orthes, in the Basses Pyrenees, and died at Perigueux. He studied first under Madame Saint-Aubert, and when only ten he became a pupil of Marmontel at the Conservatory in Paris, and won the first prize within seven months. Spent three years in concert playing, but in 1853 went back to the Conservatory and took lessons in harmony and figured bass from Bazin. He then retired to his home for ten years and did not return to Paris until 1872, a finished virtuoso. He made successful tours on the Continent, and in 1878 visited London. His style was intelligent, reposeful and charming, his repertory wide, and his few compositions, transcriptions of the classics, carefully written. He was a Chevalier of the Legion of Honor.