Michel Blavet (1700-1768) was a French composer and flute virtuoso. He was a remarkable artist who not only specialised in the bassoon and flute, but was also known for his exceptional intonation, even in difficult keys. Voltaire admired the beautiful sound of his playing and Marpurg described him as a virtuoso of the highest quality who maintained modesty despite his great popularity. He was characterised by the fact that he held the flute with his left hand, which set him apart from most flutists of his time. His works, written mainly for the transverse flute, show both the 'Italian and French styles' and are written in simple keys to make them accessible to amateurs. His surviving works include a concerto and 3 sonata books (1740).
