Eugène Damaré

French flautist and piccolo virtuoso, composer (born on December 3 or 5, 1840 in Bayonne, France – died in August 1919 in Paris, France) Born to a musician father, Joseph Barbe Damaré (1803-1850), and his wife, Adele Olympe Hauvet (d. 1848), Damaré became a virtuoso on the flute and especially piccolo flute, an instrument that became very popular after 1870. He played the piccolo with Concerts Arban, then became on orchestra conductor for 14 years, a theater director for five, and for twelve years, he directed the orchestra at performances in Paris' historic City Hall, the Hôtel de Ville. Later, he took over the Musique Civil in Oran, Algeria. He also toured Europe and the Americas. Damaré composed more than four hundred works, many for piccolo or flute accompanied by orchestra or piano. In addition, he wrote several operas and ten vaudeville-comedies.