Jacqueline Bourges-Maunoury was a French classical pianist who was born on December 22, 1928, in Paris, France. She was the daughter of a French father and a Spanish mother, and her family was deeply involved in the arts. Her father was a painter, and her mother was a singer, so it was only natural that Jacqueline would develop a love for music at a young age. Jacqueline began playing the piano when she was just four years old, and by the time she was six, she was already performing in public. She studied at the Paris Conservatory, where she was a student of Marguerite Long, a renowned French pianist. Jacqueline was a prodigious talent, and she quickly gained a reputation as one of the most promising young pianists in France. In 1947, Jacqueline won first prize at the Geneva International Music Competition, which launched her career as a concert pianist. She went on to perform in some of the most prestigious concert halls in the world, including Carnegie Hall in New York, the Royal Albert Hall in London, and the Salle Pleyel in Paris. She was known for her virtuosic technique and her ability to bring out the emotional depth of the music she played. Jacqueline was particularly renowned for her interpretations of the works of French composers, such as Debussy, Ravel, and Fauré. She was also a champion of contemporary music, and she premiered works by many of the leading composers of her time, including Olivier Messiaen and Pierre Boulez. Throughout her career, Jacqueline received numerous awards and honors. In 1952, she was awarded the Prix de la Ville de Paris, and in 1954, she won the Grand Prix du Disque for her recording of Ravel's Piano Concerto in G Major. She was also made a Chevalier of the Legion of Honor, one of the highest honors that can be bestowed upon a French citizen. One of the highlights of Jacqueline's career was her performance at the 1958 Brussels World's Fair, where she played a recital in front of an audience of over 10,000 people. She also performed at the 1962 Salzburg Festival, where she played Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 23 in A Major with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. Despite her success as a concert pianist, Jacqueline was known for her modesty and her dedication to her craft. She was a deeply spiritual person, and she often spoke about the importance of music as a means of connecting with the divine. She was also a devoted teacher, and she taught at the Paris Conservatory for many years. Jacqueline continued to perform and record throughout her life, and she remained an important figure in the world of classical music until her death on January 28, 2018, at the age of 89. She left behind a legacy of beautiful music and a deep commitment to the art of the piano.

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