Le Roux François

François Le Roux began his vocal studies with François Loup at the age of 19, and later he studied under Vera Rosza and Elisabeth Grümmer at the Opéra Studio, Paris. He is a winner of international competitions in Barcelona  ("Maria Canals") in 1978, and Rio de Janeiro in 1979. He was a member of the Lyon Opera Company from 1980 to 1985 since when he has been a guest with all the major European opera houses and festivals : Glyndebourne, Hamburg and Oslo, Frankfurt, Covent Garden, London.

His wide repertoire covers all Mozart baritone parts, a range of parts from the italian repertoire and also baroque opéra, as well as contemporary opéra.

Besides, François Le Roux gives numerous recitals accompanied by such renowned names as Irwin Gage, Graham Johnson, Roger Vignoles, Noël Lee and Jeff Cohen, and also conducts master courses dedicated to the interpretation of French songs.

Since 1997 he is artistic Director of the "Académie Francis Poulenc in Tours", where students are taught every year (in August) the interpretation of French Song, and has been organizing the " French Song Concert Season of the Bibliothèque Nationale de France " in Paris between 1997 and 2002. Since 2006, he is teaching at the Académie Maurice Ravel in Saint Jean-de-Luz, a position first detained by the famous Pierre Bernac.

His first Book “Le Chant intime”, published by Fayard, about the interpretation of French Song, has been awarded the 2004 René Dumesnil Award by the French National Académie des Beaux Arts. It is now available in Japanese (translators: Setsuko Miyama & Kenji Yamada, publisher: Shunjusha Publishing Company).

He has been awarded the grade of "Chevalier" in the French National Order of "Les Arts et Lettres" in 1996, and chosen as "Musical Personality of the year 1997" by the French Critics Union.