MICHEL BENET
(1957 -2022)

Our collaboration with Michel started in the early 1990s. He was very interested in organology. He loved to try all the oboes he came across, see what the instruments allowed him musically, how they were different from the one he played or those he had played.

In 2007, when Gérard Fossati left, Michel worked with Stéphane Guillaume, who became responsible for the manufacture of Fossati oboes. Stéphane’s rigor in the work echoed Michel’s requirement.

Michel came, asked if we could do this or that test, Stéphane was looking for the technical solution, within an hour an instrument was transformed for prototype. Michel did not just test, prelude, he played as if he were at a rehearsal with the orchestra. We heard it almost as in concert, it was a real pleasure.

Then he said, “Okay, I’ll take the prototype and compare it with my oboe in the orchestra, and I’ll be back in a fortnight.”

It will remain in the memory of the workshop.