Gaby Casadesus facts for kids

Gaby Casadesus (born August 9, 1901 – died November 12, 1999) was a famous French classical pianist and teacher. She was born in Marseilles, France. Gaby was married to another well-known French pianist, Robert Casadesus. Their son, Jean Casadesus, also became a talented pianist.

Early Life and Musical Training

Born Gaby l'Hôte, she began her musical journey at the Paris Conservatory. This is a very famous music school in France. She studied with important teachers like Louis Diémer and Marguerite Long.

Gaby was very talented and won the first prize in piano when she was just 16 years old. She even met the famous composer Claude Debussy around this time. He was a judge for one of her competitions. Gaby also won the Prix Pagès, which was a top award for women musicians in France back then.

A Life of Music and Partnerships

In 1921, Gaby married the pianist Robert Casadesus. Together, they formed a musical team called the Robert and Gaby Casadesus duo. They made many recordings of music for two pianos played by four hands.

Gaby was also a great solo pianist. She knew many famous composers, including Maurice Ravel, Gabriel Fauré, Florent Schmitt, and Moritz Moszkowski. Their advice helped her play their music even better. She also loved playing music by Felix Mendelssohn and composers from the Baroque era.

Teaching and Legacy

Gaby Casadesus was also a dedicated teacher. She taught piano in many places, including the United States. She also taught at the Salzburg Mozarteum in Austria and the Académie Maurice Ravel in Saint-Jean de Luz, France. Another place she taught was the American Conservatoire at Fontainebleau.

Some of her well-known students include Donna Amato, David Deveau, Rudy Toth, and Vladimir Valjarević. Gaby Casadesus also helped start an important piano competition. She co-founded the Robert Casadesus International Piano Competition in Cleveland, Ohio, along with Grant Johannesen and Odette Valabrègue Wurtzburger. This competition helps new talented pianists.

Images for kids

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  Robert and Gaby Casadesus playing together.