The International Confederation of Authors and Composers Societies held its annual meeting in Budapest in 1971. France was represented by Georges Auric. I felt a tremendous thrill on hearing the news that a member of Les Six, that legendary group of French composers, was in Budapest. I remember I was beside myself with excitement, grabbed my tape recorder and dashed to the Hotel InterContinental, scene of the conference.

“I am looking for Georges Auric,” I said, hardly believing what I was saying. “There he is, coming out of the hall.”

I immediately felt affection and friendship toward the jovial elderly gentleman standing in the hotel's lobby. I sensed an inner youth, an amiable, teasing irony with which he appeared to be observing the world around him. Auric had not changed much since the photograph taken of Les Six in 1952. (In an earlier photo, of 1925, he was represented by Cocteau's drawing.) His hair had grown whiter, but the parting was still in the same place, toward the middle of his forehead. His face was slightly drawn, and he moved rather clumsily. He did not have much time for an interview; eventually, we met twice for ten minutes each. See the result below.

O

Bálint András Varga (BAV): The Théâtre du Vieux-Colombier was the scene, on January 18, 1918, of a concert which is supposed to have marked the beginnings of what came to be known as the Groupe des Six.