is principal bass ofthe orchestra of the Opéra National de Paris (Paris National Opera) and, since 2000, professor of double bass at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et Danse de Paris (National Superior Conservatony of Music of Paris). Born in Metz, a town situated in the Lorraine region of Eastern France, in the heart of Europe, Barbé studied piano and double bass while simultaneously pursuing a degree in science, before devoting himself exclusively to music at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique in Paris, where he earned degrees in music theony, music histony, and a Premier Prix in double bass. After entering the orchestra of the Paris Opera in 1983 (where he is currently principal bassist), he continued studying electro-acoustic music and conducting. Barbé's passion is to perform in concert with piano, and he has played recitals and conducted master classes in Brazil (Brazilia),
Georgia (USA), the United Kingdom (British and International Bass Forum), Portugal (Porto), Spain ( Barcelona), ISB convention Oklahoma City, and Capbreton (France). He has taught the double bass since 1982, notably at the Conservatoire National de Région (National Regional Conservatony) in Saint Maur. He appreciates all styles of music, from Bach to Xenakis, world music and jazz, and frequently performs his own compositions (his first compact disc, Nomade, was released in 1998). Barbé has experimented with numerous technical approaches to the double bassltalian, French, German, from Rollez to Rabbath-and seeks to reconcile them. He endeavors to perform music sensitively with the legendany "French touch." Since 2001, Barbé has succeeded Pierre Hellouin as president of the French Bass Society (Association des Bassistes et Contrebassistes de France or ABCDF), and is the webmaster of its site www.contrebasse.com.