Désiré-Émile Inghelbrecht (1880–1965), a pivotal figure in 20th-century French music, was renowned as a conductor, composer, and passionate advocate for French repertoire. Inghelbrecht’s contributions to musical activities in France were essential: he became the inaugural music director of the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées at its opening in 1913 and later founded the Orchestre National de la Radiodiffusion Française. Beyond his work on the podium, he was a dedicated educator and promoter of music, using radio as a platform to reach broader audiences. This comprehensive box set showcases Inghelbrecht’s complete discographic legacy for Pathé, Ducretet-Thomson, Columbia and Erato. Spanning his 78rpm records from 1929 to 1939, LP recordings from 1953 to 1955, and live broadcasts from 1955 to 1962, the collection highlights his favourite pieces alongside the major orchestral works of Debussy, of whom he was a close friend. Many of these recordings, including several CD premieres, underline Inghelbrecht’s dedication to preserving and sharing the essence of French music.

French composer, conductor and writer, Désiré-Émile Inghelbrecht (17 September 1880–14 February 1965) was born in Paris, the son of a violist. He entered the Conservatoire at the age of seven only and studied solfège, harmony and violin. When 16, he was expelled when caught playing the violin in local cafés. Soon afterward, he was appointed second violin in the Concerts de l’Opéra orchestra; his friend Pierre Monteux, then conductor of the Concerts Berlioz, would also use him as a substitute – all of which gave him important experience.

In 1908 Inghelbrecht conducted the first performance of Florent Schmitt’s La Tragédie de Salomé which was a success and led to more engagements with leading musicians, including chorus master for the first performance of Claude Debussy’s Le Martyre de Saint Sébastien. In 1913 he was appointed as director of the new Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, inaugurated on 2 April. In 1919 Inghelbrecht conducted the first performance of André Caplet’s arrangement of Debussy’s La Boîte à joujoux.

Inghelbrecht was music director of the Opéra-Comique in 1924-25, where he conducted Massenet’s Manon, a new production of Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde, Debussy’s Pelléas et Mélisande, and Fauré’s Masques et bergamasques and Pénélope; he also conducted several ballets from Serge Diaghilev’s ‘Ballets russes’ seasons. From 1928 to 1932 he conducted the Concerts Pasdeloup.

In 1934, Inghelbrecht was asked to form a national radio orchestra – to become the Orchestre National de la Radiodiffusion Française. The following year, he fulfilled a long-held ambition to conduct the first Paris performance of the 1874 edition of Mussorgsky’s Boris Godunov.

During World War II, the Orchestre National de la Radiodiffusion Française was evacuated to Rennes, then Marseilles before its return to Paris in 1943. But when planning the 1,000th performance of the orchestra (which was also to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Debussy’s death), Inghelbrecht refused to conduct a program devoted to music of the occupying German forces and on 18 July 1943 he received a note suspending his appointment by order of President Laval.
From 1945 to 1950 Inghelbrecht was conductor of the Paris Opéra, and returned to the Orchestre National de la Radiodiffusion Française in 1947. From 1958 until his death in 1965, he prepared weekly radio programmes called ‘Entretiens autour d’un piano’.

As a conductor and writer, Inghelbrecht has championed Debussy, Ravel, Roussel, Chabrier and Florent Schmitt. He corresponded with Debussy – a close friend – from 1911 until the latter’s death in 1918. He was a member of Les Apaches along with Ravel, Schmitt and others.

This collection of 16 CD offers his comprehensive legacy for Pathé, Ducretet-Thomson, Columbia and Erato both from 78RPM and LP eras.

It includes many premieres on CD.

The booklet includes an extensive biography by French specialist François Laurent.