Grand Solo No. 13 for flute and orchestra, Op. 96

Jean-Louis Tulou (1786-1865) was a French flutist, composer, and instrument maker of the early 19th century. Known as the "last great champion of the simple-system flute," he defined the French style before the revolutionary changes of Theobald Boehm.
Born in Paris in a family of professional musician. His father, Louis Tulou, was a bassoonist at the Paris Opéra and a staff member at the Paris Conservatoire.
Surrounded by the elite of the French musical world, Jean-Louis entered the Paris Conservatoire at the age of 10, where he studied flute with Johann Georg Wunderlich. He won remier Prix at just 15, and by his late teens was considered the finest flutist in France.
In 1813, he was appointed principal flutist of the Théâtre de l'Opéra, a position he held with various interruptions (often due to his outspoken republican political views) until 1856.
In 1829, he was appointed Professor of Flute at the Paris Conservatoire. He became a legendary teacher, though his tenure was marked by a fierce ideological battle against the new "Boehm system" flute, which he refused to teach.
In 1831, he co-founded the flute manufacturing firm Tulou et Nonon. He designed and sold "perfected" wooden flutes with extra keys, which were known for their elegant tone and precise intonation, winning multiple exhibition medals.
Tulou’s primary legacy lies in his 15 Grand Solos, which served as the standard competition pieces for the Paris Conservatoire for decades. These works are characterized by operatic "bel canto" melodies and technical brilliance.