Jean Laforge, the chorusmaster of the Paris Opera for three decades, passed away on Feb. 4, at the age of 99.

Laforge was born in Paris in 1925. He graduated from the École normale de musique in 1943. He then began a career as a soloist, but quickly turned to choral conducting, but maintained a parallel career as a concert pianist, playing concertos with various orchestras and chamber music with his own Groupe Instrumental de Paris.

In 1958, Laforge joined the Paris Opera, where he took part in countless productions and recordings. He remained with the Opera house until retiring at the mandatory age of 62, in 1987. He went on to be head of the chorus at the Grand Théâtre de Genève until 1995, followed by a position at Nice Opera from 1996-97. Laforge returned to Paris in 1998 to lead the chours at the Opéra-comique for two years.

He is credited for conducting on over 100 recordings. Notably, Laforge is featured on the His Master’s Voice recording of “Carmen” featuring Maria Callas, Nicolai Gedda, Robert Massard, and Andréa Guiot. He also recorded with greats such as Placido Domingo and Carlo Bergonzi, among others.

A funeral took place on Feb. 14.