Generally considered to be one the greatest classical flautists, Jean Pierre Rampal was born in Marseilles on January 7th 1922 and died on May 20th 2000 at the age of 78. He studied in Marseilles and later at the Paris Conservatoire where he also taught in later years. He enjoyed a long concert career beginning in 1947 and was also solo flautist at the Paris Opera between 1956 and 1962. He played with most of the world's leading Orchestras both as a soloist and as a conductor in all the greatest concert halls. His technique was such that he was almost single-handedly credited with creating an international market for flute music not seen since the 18th Century.