René Challan

René Louis Jean Challan (12 December 1910 – 4 August 1978) was a French classical composer, impresario and art director for French record labels. René Challan was composer Henri Challan’s twin brother and harpist Annie Challan’s father. Career Born in Asnières (Hauts-de-Seine), the son of Émile Challan, Challan studied at the Conservatoire de Paris with Jean and Noël Gallon, as well as Henri Büsser. He won second prize at the Prix de Rome in 1935. The following year, he won the First Grand Prix de Rome for his cantata, Le Château endormi and joined the Villa Medici. In 1937, he married the eldest daughter of the prefect before returning to Paris at the end of the summer of 1939. From 1945 to 1975, he was artistic director of Pathé-Marconi and ensured the career of the record company’s classical artists. He also managed the rights and recordings of the great international composers in Pathé-Marconi’s catalogue. Challan was made a chevalier de la Légion d’honneur in 1952. In addition to his numerous compositions of cantata, mélodies, symphonies, concertos and opéra bouffe, Challan made great recordings such as noëls variés by different authors with the Concerts Colonne which he condu