Jacques Ballot, great internationally renowned musician, has died

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Jacques Ballot, internationally renowned flautist, died this weekend at Challans hospital. He was 90 years old. Jacques Ballot had retired to Barbâtre on the island of Noirmoutier (Vendée) after many years dedicated to music, more precisely on the flute. He received in his Noirmoutrine house, his musician friends, lifelong friends whom he had trained and met in his concerts in France and throughout the world. Discreet, endearing and very kind, he made himself many friends on the island of Noirmoutier and particularly in the associative sector.

He has played in many prestigious orchestras

Jacques Ballot, exceptional flautist, left his mark on the musical world with his talent and devotion to his art. Winner of the First Prize of the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse in Paris, in 1957, he played with prestigious orchestras such as the French National Orchestra and the Paris Opera Orchestra. He has contributed to numerous creations of contemporary music, thus enriching the flute repertoire with his passionate and innovative interpretations. He was also a member of the Comédie Française Orchestra and founder of the Paris Flute Duo with Jacques Castagner.

His journey does not stop at the stage, Jacques Ballot was also a remarkable teacherpassing on his knowledge to the Conservatoire du 7^do district of Paris then to that of Antony and finally to the Regional Conservatory of Bourges. His rigor and his love of music inspired his students, some of whom then joined the greatest Parisian orchestras. Through them, his musical legacy lives on and continues to inspire future generations.

Exceptional concert evenings on the island

Louis Gibier, mayor, confides: “I met Jacques in 2005, when he was giving an aubade at the Rocterie residential home. When I became mayor, we became friends and I discovered his impressive artistic career. Learning that he was entertaining his best musician friends at his home, we agreed to “improvise,” he said. He gave concerts open to the public on the island, the first in Barbâtre, Salle Océane, then another in the Saint-Nicolas church.

“It was a great success, a real treat, with an increasingly large audience. The growing success of these high-quality concert evenings – flute – clarinet-piano led us in 2014 to organize an exceptional concert in the church of Noirmoutier on the occasion of its 80th anniversary. In recent years Jacques played the flute in the Saint-Philbert church in Noirmoutier during Sunday high mass.

His funeral takes place this Monday, November 18 at the Barbâtre church.

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