Death of an opera conductor, 91

Death of an opera conductor, 91

RIP

norman lebrecht

March 15, 2024

The French pianist Jean-Pierre Marty, a pupil of Alfred Cortot and Julius Katchen, turned to conducting when a muscle problem inhibited his piano playing at the age of 20.

He worked in New York with George Balanchine, then with New York City Opera. Back in Paris he took charge of opera on Radio France, conducting numerous productions and some memorable recordings, notably Poulenc’s Dialogues des Carmélites with Régine Crespin.

Later, he succeeded Nadia Boulanger as Director of the American Conservatory in Fontainebleau. He also returned to the piano, recording a complete Schumann cycle.

Comments

  • CRAIG RUTENBERG says:

    R. I. P. Jean-Pierre. Commencing in 1971 you were a friend, teacher, mentor, support and boyfriend. Not always in that order.

    Even when we engaged in that very French pastime of not speaking, I treasured you.

    My education in France would not have been possible without your influence and patience.

    You, Virgil, Ned, Henri, Doda, Julius… are now all gone. But your combined influence remains. Thank you.

    I hope the peace you sought so long in life through your acquired Roman Catholicism has greeted you in the Great Beyond.

  • Vallet says:

    Never heard of him.

  • Conductor says:

    Some of his recordings are absolutely superb! I highly recommend his interpretation of Pierné’s Cydalise et le Chèvre-Pied.

  • Don Ciccio says:

    No nonsense conductor with a solid grasp of the french style. Love his Belle Helene recording.

    RIP.

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