April 14, 2012, Saturday - François Rabbath in Concert at MacPhail

Time:  8:00pm

Location: MacPhail Center for Music, 501 2nd Street South

World-renowned French double-bass player, soloist, and composer François Rabbath will be in concert at MacPhail Center for Music.

Tickets - $20 for Adults; $15 for students and seniors ages 55 + To order tickets call: 612.767.5250

Co-presented by MacPhail Center for Music, McNally Smith College of Music (MSCM) and The University of Minnesota School of Music.

The importance of François Rabbath to the development of double bass playing can be compared with that of Paganini to the violin.

Born in Aleppo, Syria, François discovered the double bass at the age of 13 when one of his brothers brought an instrument home and allowed him to experiment with it. After nine years of work in Beirut, François saved enough money to move to Paris. While in Paris he began to earn his living as an accompanist for Jacque Brel, Charles Aznavour, Gilbert Becaud, Michel Legrand and others. In 1963 he made his first of many solo record albums. Although never advertised or promoted, the Phillips album Bass Ball became one of the most sought after recordings of its time.From 1964 he became active composing much music for movies and the theater. At the same time he started to play solo recitals, first in France, then throughout Europe. His American debut was in Carnegie Hall in 1975.

François Rabbath's uniqueness stems from his refusal to accept any traditional limitations. Whether performing his own fascinating compositions, the music of others or the classical repertoire, one is always moved by his profound musicianship and dazzling virtuosity. You quickly discover that he brings you such a sense of security that the most difficult passages sound effortless.