Pierre Wissmer

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Pierre Wissmer (30 October 1915 – 4 November 1992) was a 20th‑century composer of Swiss origin who became French. He was born in Geneva and studied at the Conservatoire de Musique de Genève, where he learned from Robert Casadesus. He refined his counterpoint at the Schola Cantorum de Paris with Daniel-Lesur and studied conducting with Charles Münch at the École normale de musique de Paris. His first piano concerto was performed on the radio in 1937 by Jacqueline Blancard, conducted by Henri Tomasi. His first symphony was conducted in 1938 in Winterthur by Hermann Scherchen. In 1939 he wrote Le beau dimanche, a one‑act ballet, which connected him with Stravinsky, Poulenc, Sauguet and Cocteau. In 1944 he became professor of composition at the Conservatoire de Genève and head of the chamber music department at Radio Genève. He married pianist Laure-Anne Étienne in 1948. From 1952 to 1957 he was deputy director of programs at Radio Luxembourg, and from 1957 he directed the Schola Cantorum. He became a French citizen in 1958 and later directed the École normale de musique in Le Mans (1969–1981). He won the Grand Prix musical of the city of Paris in 1967. Wissmer died in Valcros, Var, in 1992 at the age of 77, shortly after his wife. His music is varied, including instrumental and chamber works, concert music, orchestral pieces, vocal and choral works, opera or musical theatre, ballets, and music for radio, television and film.