Violinist Florence Malgoire has Died, Aged 63

The celebrated Baroque violinist was the founder of period-instrument ensembles such as Les Nièces de Rameau and Les Dominos

Born in 1960, Malgoire was the daughter of the flautist France Gombert and oboist Jean-Claude Malgoire, who for many years was the Principal Cor Anglais of the Orchestre de Paris. Inspired by David Oistrakh's performance of the Brahms concerto, the young Malgoire began learning the violin at the age of 7.

She studied initially at the conservatory in La Courneuve, and played in La Grande Écurie et la Chambre du Roy — a period-instrument ensemble founded by her father.

Following this, Malgoire went on to the Royal Conservatory of the Hague, where she studied with Sigiswald Kuijken — one of the key figures of the Early Music Movement. In the early part of her career Malgoire frequently appeared with Kuijken's historically informed ensemble La Petite Band.

Malgoire went on to play in a number of other ensembles, including Philippe Herreweghe's La Chapelle Royale group, where she became first solo violinist. She also appeared with HIP groups such as Les Arts Florissants, Les Talens Lyriques, Les Musiciens du Louvre, and the Cappella Mediterranea.

In 2003, Malgoire founded her own ensemble, Les Dominos — with whom she made recordings of the sonatas of Élisabeth Jacquet de la Guerre and François Couperin.

In the latter part of her career, she also appeared as a conductor, and often led the Orchestre du Palais Royal.

Malgoire is survived by her husband, the writer and violist Hervé Mestron. Our condolences to her family, friends, and colleagues.