Jeanne Demessieux
The French organist Jeanne Demessieux was born in Montpellier and completed her musical studies at the Conservatoire National de Paris in 1941, where she obtained four prizes.
In 1946 and 1947, she made her debut in the Salle Pleyel with a series of twelve recitals which have become legendary.
During this performance she interpreted fully by heart the organ repertoire and improvised on themes which Florent Schmitt, Claude Delvincourt, Jean Gallon, Maurice Duruflé and others had written for her especially.
From that moment on, Jeanne Demessieux travelled constantly through Europe and she also made three tours through the United States in 1953, 1955 and 1958 respectively.
In 1952, after a competitive exam, she was appointed teacher of Organ and Improvisation at the Conservatoire Royal in Liège, which was visited by organists of various nationalities who were to be taught by her.
Besides the recordings of the integral works of César Franck's, Jeanne Demessieux made innumerable other recordings, both in France and abroad.
As a composer, she wrote various works for orchestra, but also chamber music and choral music as well as some works for her own musical instrument.
She died in 1968.
Hamburger Orgeln - The Hamburg Organs
César Franck
Intégrale de l'Œuvre pour org..
The legendary Jeanne Demessieux