Death of the Swiss flautist Aurèle Nicolet
The legendary Swiss flautist Aurèle Nicolet has died at the age of 90, according to a report by French-speaking Swiss radio and television.
Born in Neuchâtel in 1926, Nicolet studied the flute with André Jaunet and theory and composition with Willy Burkhard at the Zurich Conservatory and continued his studies with Marcel Moyse and Yvonne Drappier at the Paris Conservatory. Wilhelm Furtwängler recruited him as principal flute with the Berlin Philharmonic, where he was active from 1950 to 1959. Renowned composers, including Toru Takemitsu, Rudolf Kelterborn and György Ligeti, wrote works for him.
From 1952 to 1965, Nicolet was a professor at the Hochschule der Künste in Berlin and from 1965 to 1981 he was head of the master class in Freiburg. With his own school for flautists, he influenced generations as an outstanding teacher and performer for his instrument.
