Gaubert was fifteen when he won his first prize for flute, and the method he wrote with his teacher Taffanel still trains the flautists of today. A professor at the Conservatoire, in 1919 he took over the direction of the most prestigious French orchestra. At the Opéra he gave their French premieres to Der Rosenkavalier, to Turandot, to Elektra. A chapel with a geometric stained-glass window shelters him, under the name of his wife's parents.
The story
Born at Cahors in 1879, a pupil of Paul Taffanel, Philippe Gaubert took his first prize for flute at fifteen. The Méthode complète de flûte he co-signed with his teacher still trains flautists today.
Second Grand Prix de Rome in 1905, he studied composition with Fauré, then took the Conservatoire's flute class in 1919.
That same year he took over the Société des Concerts du Conservatoire, the most prestigious orchestra in France, and kept it until 1938.
At the Opéra, alongside Jacques Rouché, he ran the music and brought into the Paris repertoire Le Chevalier à la rose, Turandot and Elektra — three French premieres: Strauss's Rosenkavalier and Elektra, Puccini's Turandot.
He died on 8 July 1941 and rests in Division 94, on the Avenue Pacthod, first row, in a chapel with a geometric stained-glass window that carries his wife's family name: Renier.
The grave
A chapel adorned with a stained-glass window with geometric decoration by an unknown artist, beneath an inscription that is not his: “Famille Léon RENIER” — the name of his wife's family. Then come two lines: “Philippe GAUBERT, + 19 juillet 1941” and “Madeleine Ph. GAUBERT née RENIER, + 6 janvier 1959”. The date carved for him is wrong: Gaubert died on 8 July 1941. Neither the flute, nor the Société des Concerts, nor the premieres of Turandot and Elektra: the conductor of the Opéra rests under the name of his parents-in-law.
On site, do not miss
The chapel's stained-glass window with geometric decoration, and the inscription that does not put his name first: “Famille Léon RENIER” — his wife's family.
Visitors' questions
Where is Philippe Gaubert's grave?
In Division 94, avenue Pacthod, first row, in a chapel with a geometric stained-glass window bearing the inscription “Famille Léon RENIER” — the family of his wife Madeleine, who died in 1959. The conductor's name comes second.
Zénobe GrammeWhat was Philippe Gaubert's instrument?
The flute: a pupil of Taffanel, first prize at fifteen, and co-author with his teacher of the Méthode complète de flûte that still trains students today. He was professor of flute at the Conservatoire from 1919 to 1931.
Antonin MarmontelWhat did Gaubert premiere at the Paris Opera?
Three major works, in their first French performances: Der Rosenkavalier and Elektra by Strauss, and Turandot by Puccini. He was music director alongside the administrator Jacques Rouché, in the 1930s.
Gabriel PiernéWhich orchestra did Philippe Gaubert conduct?
The Société des Concerts du Conservatoire, of which he became permanent conductor in 1919 — the most prestigious orchestra in France at that date. At the Conservatoire he taught the flute, then, from 1931, conducting.
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