CARMEN-MARIE-LUCIE GUILBERT

Carmen-Marie-Lucie Guilbert was born in Levallois-Perret (a commune in the northwestern suburbs of Paris), France on 20 May 1906. She attended the Paris Conservatoire, studying first with Joseph Morpain (1873–1961), an important teacher, whose other students included Clara Haskil and Madeleine de Valmalète. He later became the director of the École Normale de Musique. She then continued her studies with Marguerite Long (1874–1966). She was the first pianist to record Gabriel Fauré’s masterpiece Theme and Variations, Op 73. She also recorded works by Debussy and Ravel. Gifted with technique to burn, Guilbert was also comfortable in the jazz and novelty piano world.