Jean Pierre Rampal, flutist and teacher
I have always modeled every aspect of my playing on the example set by Jean-Pierre Rampal. I had the great fortune to see him, hear him and study with him at his absolute prime. And, in my opinion, there was no one better than Rampal in those days. Whenever I work on new pieces -- works I never studied with Rampal -- I still recall his words of advice about tone, breathing, tempi, ornaments, support, intonation, expressivity, brilliance and panache. If Rampal had a fault, it was that sometimes he could be too brilliant. He could turn Greensleeves into a virtuoso tour de force. You had to forgive him. He mesmerized an audience like no one else. He had two indispensible qualities of a great flutist. His playing was as natural as breathing. And he was fearless.
Here is Jean-Pierre surrounded by four female flutists: yours truly, Angela Koregolos, Margaret Cook and Leone Buyse.
Here is a photo of me with Jean-Pierre after his final concert in the US. By this time, his knees had become weak, and he had to sit on a stool for much of the program. It was the last time I saw him.
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