The Archive - Robert Casadesus

The Archive - Robert Casadesus

This episode of ‘The Archive’ presents the French pianist Robert Casadesus. During his career, he met the composer Ravel and they became great friends. In 1960, Casadesus performed Ravel’s ‘Sonatine’ for British TV. Casadesus, who loved French music, often played Debussy, Chabrier and Fauré. In a 1960 recording, we listen to three of Debussy’s ‘Preludes’ and Chabrier’s ‘Bourrée Fantasque’. In the following recording – from 1970 – he performs in a more classical vein: Beethoven’s ‘Sonata op. 101’. This episode of ‘The Archive’ ends with recordings from 1971, made briefly before the pianist’s death, in which Casadesus plays Fauré’s ‘Theme and Variations’ nos. 1, 2, and 11 during a short recital at his home for a French documentary.