Cécile Ousset facts for kids
Cécile Ousset (born 23 January 1936) is a famous French pianist. She is known for her amazing musical talent and her many performances around the world.
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Early Life and Musical Journey
Cécile Ousset was born in Tarbes, France. She started playing the piano at a very young age. She gave her first public performance when she was just five years old!
Studying at the Paris Conservatoire
When she was 10, Cécile began studying at the famous Paris Conservatoire. Her teacher was Marcel Ciampi, a well-known piano instructor. By the time she was 14, Cécile had already won first prize in her piano class in 1950. This was a huge achievement for someone so young.
Winning Music Competitions
Cécile Ousset continued to win many important music competitions. In 1953, she won the Claire Pages prize. She also won prizes at:
- The Marguerite Long-Jacques Thibaud Competition in Geneva when she was 17.
- The Prix du Concours International de Geneve at 18.
- The Premier Grand Prix du Concours International Viotti at 19.
- The Premier Prix du Concours International Busoni at 23.
- A Van Cliburn Prize when she was 26.
She also earned fourth prize in the Queen Elisabeth Music Competition in Belgium in 1956. These wins showed her incredible skill and dedication to music.
Performing and Recording Music
Cécile Ousset has performed all over the world. She played many different types of music, including concertos by famous composers. Some of these composers include Brahms, Grieg, Saint-Saëns, and Tchaikovsky.
Famous Recordings
She recorded many of these pieces with well-known conductors like Kurt Masur and Simon Rattle. Cécile Ousset won the Grand Prix du Disque award for her recording of Brahms's Piano Concerto No. 2. This was a big honor for her work.
Teaching and Mentoring Young Musicians
Besides performing, Cécile Ousset also loved to teach. She held special classes called Master Classes for young, talented musicians. These classes took place in many countries, including the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, and the Far East.
Annual Master Classes
Since 1984, she has held annual Master Classes in the beautiful medieval village of Puycelsi in France. She also helped judge major piano competitions. These included the Van Cliburn, Rubinstein, Leeds, and the Queen Elisabeth Music Competition.
Noted Recordings
Cécile Ousset is especially known for her recordings of music by Ravel, Chopin, Liszt, Rachmaninoff, and Debussy.
Later Years
Cécile Ousset is an Honorary Patron of the Yaltah Menuhin Memorial Fund. This fund helps support young musicians. In December 2006, she stopped performing in public due to health issues with her back.
See also
In Spanish: Cécile Ousset para niños
