Dufour Mathieu
Flute
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 Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse for three years.
Dufour began his flute studies at the age of eight with Madeleine
Chassang at the National Regional Conservatory in his hometown of
Paris, France. At the age of fourteen, 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. 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 has
given many recitals and concerts as part of their Young European
Soloists Ensemble. He is a member of the Chicago Chamber Musicians, and
he serves on the faculty at Roosevelt University in Chicago.
Dufour’s discography includes a recently released solo recital of
sonatas by Prokofiev, Martinu, and Hindemith; Poulenc’s complete
chamber music; and the complete works for flute by Roussel.
Mathieu Dufour first appeared as soloist with the Chicago Symphony
Orchestra at a special donor appreciation concert in May 2000, in
Devienne’s Seventh Flute Concerto with William Eddins conducting. He
made his debut as soloist on subscription concerts in November and
December 2000, in Mozart’s Concerto for Flute and Harp in C major, with
Sarah Bullen as harp soloist and Daniel Barenboim conducting. Dufour
most recently appeared as soloist on subscription concerts in May 2003,
in Bach’s Second Orchestral Suite with Jaime Laredo conducting. He
first appeared as soloist with the Orchestra at the Ravinia Festival in
June 2000, in Jolivet’s Flute Concerto with Christoph Eschenbach
conducting, and most recently in July 2002, in Mozart’s First Flute
Concerto with Christoph Eschenbach conducting, and in Bach’s Second,
Fourth, and Fifth Brandenburg concertos with Nicholas McGegan
conducting. This artist appears in the following concerts: