Michel Dussault

Dussault, Michel
Michel (Joseph) Dussault. Pianist, teacher, broadcaster, composer, b Thetford-Mines, Que, 8 Jul 1943; premier prix (CMM) 1961, premier prix (Cons de Paris) 1963. He studied piano in Sherbrooke and 1955-61 at the CMM under Yvonne Hubert. At 13 he played the first movement of Beethoven's Concerto No. 3 with the Sherbrooke Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sylvio Lacharité and with the CBC Montreal orchestra under Wilfrid Pelletier. In 1960 he obtained the Prix Archambault and a scholarship from the Amis de l'Art foundation. He was the winner of the grand prize of the CBC Talent Festival Competition in 1961 and performed with all the principal orchestras in Canada. He was a pupil of Vlado Perlemuter 1961-2 in Paris and of Yvonne Lefébure 1962-3 at the Cons de Paris. He represented Canada at the International JM Congress in 1963, performing on that occasion with the Swiss Orchestra at Palma de Mallorca.

After a recital at the Centre social of the University of Montreal, Jean Vallerand wrote: '[Dussault's] playing was of a very fine quality, his musical sensitivity that of a magnificent artist, capable of depth of thought and subtlety in interpretation. His dynamic scheme was charmingly put forward, the phrases ''sung'' with sincerity and inner conviction' (La Presse, 31 Oct 1963).

Between 1959 and 1972 Dussault made seven JMC (YMC) tours and on one in 1968-9 he accompanied the baritone Max Van Egmond, the clarinetist Milenko Stefanovic, and the violinist Konstantin Kulka. Other tours in these years included one, sponsored in 1963 by the Canada Council, of Canadian universities.

Dussault was one of the winners of the JMC National Competition in 1964 and was the host 1965-7 for 'Jeunesse oblige' on CBC TV. As well as playing with the Boston SO in 1958, the San Francisco SO in 1960, and the Cleveland Orchestra and the Chicago Symphony in 1965, he has appeared with the Quebec Symphony Orchestra on several occasions. In 1978 he performed Chopin's Concerto No. 2 with that orchestra. Dussault was one of the hosts of 'Au gré de la fantaisie' on CBC radio.

Dussault established the music program at the Sherbrooke Seminary in 1966-7, began teaching piano at the UQATR in 1969, and taught at the Cons de Trois-Rivières 1973-5. He has been a frequent guest at the Julliard School of New York and at the universities of Princeton and Trenton, N. J.

Between 1954 and 1966 Dussault composed about 30 piano pieces as well as some chamber works. In 1977 he recorded Rodolphe Mathieu's Sonata and, with the Classical Quartet of Montreal, the same composer's Quintet.for the LP Musique québécoise: 'Nos compositeurs' (L'Oiseau-Coeur OC S-02), and the CD Chopin méconnu in 1990 (CBC Musica Viva MVCD-1045). He is the brother of the soprano Céline Dussault.

Author Pierre Rochon

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