Suzanne Chaisemartin


Suzanne Chaisemartin was a French organist, concertist and music educator.

Life

Born in Choisy-le-Roi of an architect father and a pianist mother, she was initiated to the piano by her older sister. She continued with Madame Chaumont, while obtaining a 1st medal in solfège in Madame Massait's class at the Conservatoire de Paris.
Introduced to Marcel Dupré in 1939, she studied privately with him before winning a first prize for organ and improvisation at the Conservatoire in Paris in 1947.
As soon as she finished her studies, Chaisemartin began a career as a concert performer, which took her all over Europe and the United States. She gave more than 900 organ recitals. She was also a soloist at Radio France.
Appointed in 1949 holder of the grand organ Barker/Cavaillé-coll of the Église Saint-Augustin de Paris, succeeding André Fleury, she was appointed honorary fellow after her retirement in 1997.
At the beginning of her career, she often replaced her master Marcel Dupré at the Saint-Sulpice pulpit during her many tours abroad. Thereafter, she was heard many times in the same prestigious forum.
Substitute in 1955 for Rolande Falcinelli at the Conservatoire de Paris, she became an assistant professor from 1971 to 1986.
Chaisemartin also taught at the École normale de musique de Paris and the, from 1971 to 1989.
Chaisemartin died in Paris at age 96.

Awards

Chaisemartin has made numerous recordings devoted mainly to Bach, Mendelssohn, Schumann, Liszt, Brahms, Guilmant, Widor, Gigout, Dupré and Langlais.