Denise Massé (April 2, 1946 – June 14, 2022) was a Canadian musician and recording artist. Trained as a concert pianist, she was best known for her work as a repertory pianist and an as operatic coach. Along with Janine Reiss, she was considered one of the greatest coaches of French repertoire of her era.[1][2][3]
Denise Massé was born on April 2, 1946, in Montreal (Quebec, Canada). She spent her childhood in Drummondville before moving back to Montreal to study as a pianist, where she received her bachelor of music from the École Vincent-d'Indy (1966) and her Master's in musical interpretation at the Université de Montréal (1969). During this time, Denise Massé performed as a soloist and accompanist, including concerts at Expo 67's Youth Pavilion.
After receiving a number of regional awards for piano throughout the 1960s, Denise Massé received high praise at the 1968 Festival de musique du Québec from judges Wilfred Pelletier—"Technique et musicalité remarquables. Excellente pianiste, sensibilité de premier ordre" and John Brownlee—"An amazing talent. A terrific technique, strong and flexible. She makes this difficult concerto sound almost easy. An extraordinary musician, and what a performance". Upon further receiving a bursary from the Ministère de l'Éducation (Québec) [fr],[6] Denise Massé went on to study piano and accompaniment for the next three years with Dieter Weber and Erik Werba in Vienna, and with Gerald Moore in London.
Denise Massé retired in 2018 and returned to Montreal. She died of a stroke on June 14, 2022, after suffering from dementia. Stage director Fabrizio Melano dedicated his production of Charles Gounod’s Faust at the Savannah Voice Festival in memoriam. The Performing Arts Foundation of the Americas is currently creating an award to honor her passion in teaching, and life, in music.[citation needed]
Practicing in Drummondville where she spent her childhood (c. 1952)