Flautist Rampal dies

The French flautist, Jean-Pierre Rampal, has died at the age of seventy-eight, following a heart attack at his home in Paris.

Mr Rampal was the first musician to establish the flute as a virtuoso instrument on a par with the piano and strings.

He was best known for his championing of Baroque music, but his repertoire also included jazz, English folk songs, Japanese classical music and Indian influences. He gained international recognition as a conductor, too.

He received numerous prizes for his solo and collaborative work, which included the recording of a disc of trios with violinist, Isaac Stern, and the cellist-conductor, Mstislav Rostropovich.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service