Jean-Pierre Marty

French pianist and conductor Jean-Pierre Marty was born in Paris on 12 October 1932. He studied piano with Marcel Ciampi, Alfred Cortot then Julius Katchen, and harmony, counterpoint and composition with Nadia Boulanger.

His career as a pianist was cut short by serious muscular problems when he was twenty, so he moved to the USA and studied conducting with Robert Irving. He worked as a ballet and opera conductor in the USA, also making recordings and working with Menotti at the Spoleto Festival.

Back home he worked for Radio France, directing first performances of many little-known operas. He also occasionally returned to giving concerts as a pianist and wrote several books and essays.

Jean-Pierre Marty died in Paris on 14 March 2024, aged ninety-one.