Albert Roussel was a French composer born in 1869 in a wealthy industrial family in the North of France. As a young boy, he wanted to become a sailor and joined the Navy for a few years before being caught up by his love for music and composition. He retired from active duty to join a Parisian school of music. Between the World Wars, he composed extensively and was a great reference for young musicians of that era. He died of heart failure at the age of 68, in 1937. His legacy consists of many chamber music pieces, pieces for piano, two concertos for piano and cello, four symphonies, three ballets Le Festin de l'araignée, Bacchus et Ariane, and Aeneas as well as the Opéra-ballet Padmâvatî. The originality and purity of his music still resonate today.  

Photo credit: BNF Gallica, agence Meurisse