Samson François

Samson Pascal François (18 May 1924 – 22 October 1970) was a French pianist and composer. François was born in Frankfurt where his father worked at the French consulate. His mother, Rose, named him Samson, for strength, and Pascal, for spirit. François discovered the piano early – at the age of two – and his first studies were in Italy, with Pietro Mascagni, who encouraged him to give his first concert at the age of six. Moving from country to country with his itinerant family, he studied in Belgrade with professor Ćirilo Ličar (Cyril Licar), obtaining a first prize in performance. Professor Ličar also introduced him to the works of Béla Bartók. Having studied in the Conservatoire in Nice from 1932 to 1935, where he again won first...