In presenting the famous French pianists, =Charles Henri Valentine
Alkan=, born 1813, died 1888, must not be forgotten. A brilliant
pianist, he claims our attention chiefly on account of his etudes,
introducing novel and extremely difficult problems of technic.
Musically his studies cannot be compared with those of Chopin or Liszt,
but they merit attention, particularly in the modern editions.
Although =Camille Saint-Saëns= is known chiefly as a composer, he was,
during his early years, a remarkable pianist. His contributions to
piano literature, five concertos, etudes and smaller pieces, are all
valuable.
A group of Paris Conservatory professors constitute the most
distinguishing teaching talent in France today. Further than that,
Paris is one of the great centres of piano playing in Europe. Its
teachers follow their own traditions, yet have assimilated from Liszt.
The oldest of these is =Georges Mathias= (b. 1826), pupil of Chopin,
Kalkbrenner and the Paris Conservatory, who has been professor of piano
playing since 1862. =E. Delaborde=, a pupil of Alkan, Moscheles and
Liszt, has taught at the Paris Conservatory since 1873. One of the most
successful teachers now living is =Louis Dièmer=, born 1843, a pupil
of Marmontel. Winning the first piano prize at the age of thirteen,
he succeeded his former teacher in 1888. Dièmer has turned out many
first prizes; he has an impeccable technic; he has done much to foster
interest in the harpsichord, the oboe d’amore and other obsolete
instruments. He has published valuable collections of old French
harpsichord music, besides original works. A Conservatory teacher
well-known in America is =Raoul Pugno=, born 1852. A pupil of the
Paris Conservatory, he obtained first prizes in piano playing, organ
and harmony. He came to America in 1897-98 with Ysaye and others, and
again in 1902. He has taught at the Paris Conservatory since 1897. He
has a superb technic, and is versatile as an interpreter. He has also
composed much. A teacher of unusual insight into technic is =Isidor
Philipp=, born 1863, a pupil of Mathias, Saint-Saëns and others. He
possesses a flawlessly accurate technic, and has appeared frequently
in public, although he devotes the greater part of his energy to
teaching. He has published many valuable sets of exercises, collections
of difficult passages, some transcriptions and original pieces. He has
been professor at the Conservatory since 1904.
=Louis Breitner=, a pupil of the Milan Conservatory, Anton Rubinstein
and Liszt, has lived for many years at Paris as pianist and teacher. He
also has visited America. Among the younger French pianists are =Leon
Delafosse=, =Edouard Risler=, an eclectic pianist, a pupil of Dièmer,
D’Albert and Stavenhagen.