A Timeline

2 July 1887

Marcel Tabuteau born in Compiègne, France
1893

Begins violin studies
1896

Begins oboe studies
14 November 1900

Auditions for Paris Conservatory (not accepted)
November 1900

Begins private lessons with Georges Gillet in Paris
13 November 1902

Admitted to class of Georges Gillet at Paris Conservatory
28 July 1904

Graduates from Paris Conservatory winning Premier Prix de Hautbois
April 1905

Auditioned by Walter Damrosch in Paris
6 May 1905

Departs for America to join his orchestra
13 May 1905

Arrives in New York
May 1905

Begins performing with New York Symphony under Damrosch: 2^nd oboe/English horn
7 October 1906

Reports for military duty in Compiègne France
5 February 1907

Joins 45th Infantry Regimental Band
7 October 1907

Demobilized from French military
October 1907

Begins second season with New York Symphony
November 1908

Begins first season as principal oboe of Metropolitan Opera Orchestra
1 August 1914

Drafted into French military service for World War I
14 December 1914

Medical discharge from French military
20 February 1915

Begins as principal oboe in Panama-Pacific International Exposition (World’s Fair) Orchestra in San Francisco
April 1915

Signs contract to be principal oboe of Philadelphia Orchestra under Leopold Stokowski
15 October 1915

First performance with Philadelphia Orchestra
15 November 1915

First solo performance with Philadelphia Orchestra in 'runout' concert (Handel G-minor oboe concerto)
30 April 1920

First solo performance with Philadelphia Orchestra in subscription concert at Academy of Music (Mozart oboe quartet arranged for orchestra by Stokowski)
October 1925

Begins teaching at Curtis Institute of Music (Philadelphia PA)
2-3 May 1929

Records Sibelius: The Swan of Tuonela (English Horn) with Stokowski
10 February 1930

First Curtis concert featuring a woodwind ensemble directed by Tabuteau
28 March 1930

First Curtis radio broadcast featuring a woodwind ensemble directed by Tabuteau
11 July 1934

Marcel Tabuteau marries Louise André in Paris
15 October 1937

Awarded French Legion of Honor on Academy of Music Stage (Philadelphia)
19 April 1940

Twenty-five year Service Award from Philadelphia Orchestra
22 December 1940

Records Mozart Sinfonia Concertante for Winds conducted by Stokowski
1947

Medal of Achievement from Philadelphia Art Alliance
June 1950

Performs in first Casals Festival (Prades France)

Records Bach Concerto for Oboe and Violin
20 October 1950

World Premiere performance of Howard Hanson's Pastorale for Oboe, Strings and Harp conducted by Eugene Ormandy
July 1951

Performs in second Casals Festival (Perpignan France)

Records Mozart Oboe Quartet and Divertimento for Oboe, 2 Horns and Strings
10 May 1952

Receives Hon. Doctor of Music from Curtis Institute of Music
13 May 1952

Records Handel Concerto in G-minor with Philadelphia Orchestra conducted by Ormandy (record features first-chair players)
June 1953

Performs in fourth Casals Festival (Prades France)

Records Mozart Oboe Quartet 2nd time
January 1954

Tabuteau's final performance with Philadelphia Orchestra
February 1954

Philadelphia Orchestra members' tribute signed by entire orchestra
26 February 1954

Departs for retirement in France
28 May 1959

Departs for visit to USA
August 1959

Interview on National Educational Television: 200 Years of Woodwinds
November 1959

Returns to France
1 February 1961

Recognized in Woodwind World's Hall of Fame
4 January 1966

Dies in Nice, France
8 March 1966

1st Memorial Tribute: World Premiere--Elegy by Harold Boatrite: 16 Concerto Soloists conducted by Marc Mostovoy
1971

Release of Art of the Oboe: 2 LP set by Coronet Records
3 March 1977

2nd Memorial Tribute: World Premiere--Trail of Beauty by David Amram: Philadelphia Orchestra conducted by Ormandy
4 March 1979

Memorial Concerts at Curtis Institute of Music: Awarding of Marcel Tabuteau Chair of Woodwind Studies and dedication of Marcel Tabuteau Room
1996

Reissue of Art of the Oboe on CD: Marcel Tabuteau's Lessons; Boston Records
1998

Release of CD: Marcel Tabuteau Excerpts with Stokowski conducting Philadelphia Orchestra; Boston Records
2008

Publication of Tabuteau biography by Laila Storch: Marcel Tabuteau: How Do You Expect to Play the Oboe If You Can’t Peel a Mushroom? Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 2008
2 July 2017

Inauguration of Marcel Tabuteau Website: Marcel Tabuteau First-Hand

Further details may be found in Laila Storch’s biography and on this website.

Marcel Tabuteau First-Hand

Sections

What's New!