This article traces the historical development of the flute repertoire from the Baroque era to the second half of the 20th century, focusing on the flute's changing role in orchestral, chamber, and solo music. It examines the instrument's periods of flourishing and temporary decline, the specifics of its symbolic and timbral perception in 19th-century European culture, the impact of Theobald Böhm's reform on the flute's technical capabilities, and its revival in 20th-century musical culture. Particular attention is given to the works of Claude Debussy, Maurice Ravel, Richard Strauss, Igor Stravinsky, and the French "Six," as well as to the neoclassical and avant-garde trends that contributed to the flute's transformation into an independent, virtuoso and expressive instrument. It shows how the instrument evolved from a predominantly orchestral and pastoral instrument to a solo, concert-style voice with broad technical and artistic possibilities.