Jean Martin | |
Birth Date: | 1927 11, df=y |
Birth Place: | Lyon, France |
Death Place: | Paris, France |
Nationality: | French |
Occupation: | Pianist |
Jean Martin (7 November 1927 – 7 October 2020)[1] was a French pianist.
Martin started studying music in his hometown of Lyon before going to the Conservatoire de Paris, where he was a student of Yves Nat.[2] Graduating in 1946, he also perfected his skills under the direction of Guido Agosti.[2]
Martin began a teaching career, starting in Grenoble in 1953, before moving to Saint-Quentin, Bobigny, and Versailles. He also served as director of music at the Théâtre Essaïon and the Théâtre Paris-Villette. He also gave master classes in interpretation in Porto.[3]
Martin was a specialist in the romantic repertoire. He recorded two albums dedicated to the works of Carl Maria von Weber, five dedicated to Robert Schumann, two to Stephen Heller and Gabriel Fauré,[2] as well as works by Clara Schumann,[4] Johannes Brahms,[5] Benjamin Godard,[6] and Theodor Kirchner.[7]
Claude Ballif dedicated some works to Martin, including the 5th Sonata.[8]
In 1970, he played with the Trio Delta with violinist Flora Elphège and cellist Claude Burgos. Critics noticed Martin's playing with "temperament, the richness of the sounds and the wisdom of the interpretation".[9]
Martin died on 7 October 2020 in Paris, aged 92.[2]