Robert Casadesus
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Robert Casadesus (April 7, 1899 – September 19, 1972) was a French pianist and composer.
He was born in Paris and studied at the Conservatoire there with Louis Diémer, taking a premier prix in 1913 and the Prix Diémer in 1920. From 1922 he collaborated with Ravel on a project to create piano rolls of a number of works as well as sharing concert platforms with the composer in France, Spain and England.
As a soloist he toured widely and appeared on five continents and he frequently performed with his wife, the pianist Gaby Casadesus, whom he married in 1921. His pupils include Claude Helffer and Monique Haas. From 1935 he taught at the American Conservatory at Fontainebleau and he spent the Second World War years in the United States.
His style of playing was classical and restrained. He is especially noted as one of the greatest Mozart players of all time. Among his other highly-regarded recordings are those of the music of Ravel, and the Beethoven Violin Sonatas with Zino Francescatti (of which the Kreutzer Sonata was filmed and has been released on DVD).
Casadesus was joined by his wife Gaby and their son Jean in exemplary performances of Mozart's Concertos for 2 and 3 pianos. They recorded these works with the Columbia Symphony and Cleveland Orchestras conducted by George Szell as well as with the Philadelphia Orchestra conducted by Eugene Ormandy which has been released on Sony Classical: CD 5033962 (google for: B00005KKNZ)
Robert Casadesus' complete discography can be found at: http://www.robertcasadesus.com/encydisco.php?search_flag=off
