Darré, Jeanne-Marie (1905–1999)
Darré, Jeanne-Marie (1905–1999)
French pianist. Name variations: Darre. Born in Givet, France, a town near the Belgian border, on July 30, 1905; died on January 26, 1999, in Port Marly, France; studied with Marguerite Long and Isidor Philipp (1863–1958) in Paris; taught at the Paris Conservatoire and concertized widely.
Studying with Marguerite Long and Isidor Philipp, two of the most important piano teachers
of the period, Jeanne-Marie Darré won first prizes in both their classes. Her concert career began in 1920, and she had a long, distinguished teaching career at the Paris Conservatoire. Darré's American recital debut in 1962 was an unqualified success. Her favorite pieces were the Ravel G major concerto, Weber's Konzertstück, and the five concerti of Saint-Saëns. In 1926, at the very start of her illustrious career, she delighted Paris by performing all five of the Saint-Saëns concerti in one marathon evening. Darré's dry, brilliant style was perfect for the great works of French pianism. Of her many recordings, one of the most distinguished is an acclaimed reading of the Liszt Piano Sonata, controversial because of her strongly analytical approach to the work.
John Haag , Athens, Georgia