Georges Auric

Georges Auric (Lodève, 1899 – 1983) was a French composer and member of Les Six, an influential group associated with Jean Cocteau and Erik Satie. Trained at the Paris Conservatoire and the Schola Cantorum under Vincent d’Indy and Albert Roussel, he gained recognition early for his piano and compositional skills. Auric wrote music across a range of genres, including ballets, operas, chamber works, and songs, and became particularly noted for his film scores, composing for French, British, and American cinema, including À Nous la Liberté and Moulin Rouge. Later in his career he served as director of the Opéra National de Paris and chairman of SACEM, continuing to compose classical works alongside his contributions to film. His music combined modernist innovation with accessible, populist elements, reflecting his commitment to reaching broad audiences.