French violinist Jean Leber dies of coronavirus, aged 80

25 March 2020, 11:09

Violinist Jean Leber, conservatoire director and founder of the Paris Octet, has died of coronavirus complications.

Jean Leber, French violinist and a key figure in contemporary music, has died due to COVID-19. It has been reported that the conductor and teacher died on 18 March 2020 after contracting the virus.

Leber was a key figure in contemporary music, who cut his teeth playing in the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, before joining the Paris Opera.

He founded the Paris Octet with Michael Walès in 1965, and in 1972 he became director of the Conservatoire de Gennevilliers. He later took up the position of director at the Centre musical Edgar-Varèse.

As a pedagogue, Leber directed the schools of the École nationale de musique de Gennevilliers, École nationale de musique de Chartres, and chamber music classes in Poitiers. He also taught at the National Conservatory Regional Influence Pierre Barbizet, and taught and played violin at the Opéra de Marseille.

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Leber is one of an increasing number of musicians to have died due to COVID-19.

It was reported yesterday that renowned jazz artist Manu Dibango, best known for his 1972 hit ‘Soul Makoosa’, has died of coronavirus complications. The Cameroon-born singer and saxophonist was 86 years old.

Legendary singer Cy Tucker, who sang with the Beatles, has also died in hospital aged 76 after contracting the virus.

There are now an estimated 434,595 worldwide cases of coronavirus, and 19,603 deaths.