Casadesus, Robert

Casadesus, Robert

(käsädāsüs`), 1899–1972, French pianist and composer, b. Paris. Casadesus was born into a family remarkable for its numerous celebrated musicians. After study at the Paris Conservatory, he embarked in 1922 on a long and distinguished concert career. After 1940, Casadesus lived in the United States, where he taught and composed. He became director of the American Conservatory at Fontainebleau in 1945. Noted as a pianist of lyric sensitivity, he often appeared in concert with his wife, the pianist Gaby Casadesus. Their son, Jean Casadesus, 1927–72, was also a well-known concert pianist.