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Bernard Salles

Double bass player, conductor, composer

Bernard Salles began his musical education in his home town of Perpignan (France), where he studied a number of disciplines at the conservatoire: double bass (with Gerard Massat), organ, writing, composition and orchestral direction. He then went to the Conservatoire of Versailles to study with Jacques Cazauran. Since then, he has taught at the Conservatoire of Pau (South-West France) and he taught at the Higher Music School of San Sebastian for 8 years. He has regularly played with the major French orchestras: the Orchestra of Paris and the National Orchestra of France, under the direction of conductors such as D.Baremboïm, P.Boulez, Z.Metha, L.Maazel…

In 1983 he began a parallel career as a conductor and was Musical Director of the Orchestra of Pau from 1996 to 2001. He has directed the Orchestra of Pamplona (Spain) and is currently the Musical Director of the OSSO (Orchestre Symphonique du Sud-Ouest).

As a composer and member of the SACEM (the Society of Authors, Composers and Editors of Music), he has written over 70 works, including two symphonies, a cantata, a psalm for bass and orchestra, a concerto for double bass and small orchestra, Rhapsody for viola and orchestra, Triptych for orchestra, Prelude for cello and orchestra, Caïn et Abel symphonic poem for soprano, cello and orchestra, Fantaisie for violin and orchestra, Sinfonia concertante for double bass and orchestra, as well as works for solo double bass, chamber groups, choir , organ.

Between 1997 and 1999 Bernard recorded three CDs on the GALLO label (Switzerland): Music for double bass and string quintet and Suites I – V and 6 chorales by J.S. Bach. His double bass concerto was recorded by Bernard Cazauran on the GALLO label, and his first four books of "Portraits for Friends", for unaccompanied double bass, have been recorded by Dan Styffe on the Fabra label, who also recorded "Sonata for Solo Bass" on the CD "Postcards from Oslo" released on the Prima Facie label. David Heyes recorded "Sonatina - In Memoriam Frantisek Posta" on his CD "Postcards from Prague", released on the label Prima Facie.

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