Report from the 26 March 2020
André Larquié
It is with great sadness that all the staff of the Paris Opera and Arop learned of the death of André Larquié on Thursday March 26, 2020.
President of the Paris Opera from 1983 to 1987
Honorary President of the Opera since 1987
Member of the Arop Honorary Committee
The history of the Paris Opera and Arop are intimately linked to the commitment of this man who possessed an extraordinary personality. A man of culture and a great music lover, he was a faithful and generous supporter of both institutions.
André Larquié, born in 1938 in the Pyrénées Atlantiques, a graduate of Paris' Institut d'études politiques, a former student of ENA, an honorary inspector general of cultural affairs, spent most of his career in the service of culture, and more particularly that of music and dance.
In 1975, he became assistant to the director of music, opera and dance at the Ministry of Culture and Communication, then from May 1981 to September 1983, project manager for the Minister of Culture Jack Lang. He was then appointed President of the Théâtre National de l'Opéra de Paris, from 1983 to 1987, President of the Théâtre contemporain de la danse and the Centre national de la Danse, then technical advisor for culture and communication alongside Michel Rocard at Matignon in 1988 and 1989 and President Director General of Radio France Internationale (RFI) from 1989 to 1995. In 1998 he became director of the study mission on the spoliation of Jews in France and President of the Ballet national de Nancy et de Lorraine. Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Cité de la Musique, from 1999 to 2001, President of the Board of Directors of the Théâtre du Châtelet then President of the Palais omnisport de Bercy in 2004. He was also president of the Circle of Friends of Rudolf Nureyev from 1995 onwards.
Whilst still at the ministry of Culture, André Larquié negotiated the arrival of Rudolf Nureyev to direct the Paris Opera Ballet and upon taking office at the Paris Opera refounded Arop with Marina de Brantes.
Together they organised an event in October 1984 which brought together more than 500 people to relaunch this association of friends and patrons. Rudolf Nureyev, the new Director of Dance, was present, as well as the founding members of the Association, led by Michel David-Weill, its new president, then president of the Banque Lazard. Arop rapidly developed and organised a gala on December 20 1984, with an unforgettable Swan Lake in Rudolf Nureyev's choreography. The Comité Colbert and the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture were present, as were the biggest French luxury brands. This gala permanently established Arop as an essential support for the prestige and influence of the Paris Opera.
Under his leadership, the American Friends of the Paris Opera and Ballet were created in 1985 to finance a ballet tour to New York, along with the "Rêve d'enfants" matinée which welcomes hundreds of children from foster homes and social centres in the Paris region, as well as the first Dance Prize, in 1987, awarded to a young male dancer and a young female dancer from the Paris Opera Ballet in order to encourage their careers.
