Germaine Thyssens-Valentin plays Fauré's Thème et variations, Op. 73
Gabriel Fauré (1845-1924) Thème et variations, Op. 73 in C sharp minor Recorded in 1955 Germaine Thyssens-Valentin (1902-1987) was another pianist who won the premier prix while Fauré was still Director of the Paris Conservatoire, one year after Perlemuter, in 1920. She was born in Maastricht, Holland, from a Dutch father and a French mother, but she was a typical product of the French piano school, having studied with Isidor Philipp. She retired from the concert stage for more than 25 years after her marriage with Paul Valentin with whom she had five children. When she resumed her musical career, she developed into a Fauré-specialist. She played and performed his complete piano works, to great critical acclaim. It's thanks to the label Testament that her art was preserved. Paintings by Julius LeBlanc Stewart (1855-1919).