Birth

:

August 9, 1901 in Marseille, France

Death

:

November 12, 1999 in Paris, France

Period

:

Romantic

 

 

Modern

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Concerto

 

 

Keyboard

 

Gaby Casadesus was a French classical pianist who was born on April 12, 1901, in Marseille, France. She was born into a family of musicians, with her father Henri Casadesus being a violist and composer, and her mother Marie-Louise Beetz being a pianist. Her uncle, Marius Casadesus, was also a renowned pianist and composer. Gaby Casadesus began playing the piano at a young age and showed great talent. She studied at the Paris Conservatory under the tutelage of Isidor Philipp and Lazare Lévy. She won first prize in piano at the Conservatory at the age of 16, and went on to win several other awards and prizes throughout her career. Casadesus made her debut as a soloist in 1923, performing with the Orchestre Lamoureux in Paris. She quickly gained a reputation as a talented and versatile pianist, and began performing throughout Europe and the United States. She was known for her interpretations of the works of Mozart, Beethoven, and Chopin, among others. One of the highlights of Casadesus's career was her performance of Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 23 in A major with the New York Philharmonic under the direction of Leonard Bernstein in 1961. The performance was highly acclaimed, and Casadesus was praised for her "graceful and sensitive" playing. Casadesus also had a successful career as a chamber musician, performing with her husband, the violinist Robert Casadesus, and other renowned musicians such as Pablo Casals and Isaac Stern. She was a member of the Casadesus Trio, which included her husband and her brother-in-law, the cellist Henri Casadesus. In addition to her performances, Casadesus was also a respected teacher. She taught at the Paris Conservatory and the École Normale de Musique de Paris, and her students included the pianist Jean-Philippe Collard. Casadesus received several awards and honors throughout her career. She was made a Chevalier of the Legion of Honor in 1953, and was promoted to Officier in 1977. She was also awarded the Grand Prix du Disque for her recordings of Mozart's piano concertos. Casadesus continued to perform and teach until her death on November 12, 1999, at the age of 98. She left behind a legacy as a talented and versatile pianist, a respected chamber musician, and a dedicated teacher. Her recordings and performances continue to be celebrated by classical music enthusiasts around the world.

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