109-year-old Colette Maze, the oldest pianist to ever release an album, dies


22 November 2023
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By Ellie Palmer
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The French pianist passed away peacefully at home in France

Colette Maze, who earlier this year became the oldest pianist ever to release an album, has passed away aged 109.

Colette, born just one month before the start of World War One in 1914, was a former pupil of Alfred Cortot and Nadia Boulanger. She was taught by them at the École Normale de Musique de Paris in the 1920s and 30s, in her teenage years.

Her death was announced on her Facebook page, which she had been very active on right up to her passing.

 

 

Her longevity captured the hearts of millions of piano lovers worldwide. Earlier this year, she released a new album celebrating her 109th birthday. 109 ans de piano was released in June and features 19 pieces all performed by Colette. It includes works by Claude Debussy, George Gershwin, Robert Schumann, Ruichi Sakamoto and Astor Piazzolla. Concert guitarist Bertrand Cazé appears on several tracks alongside Colette.

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You can stream her album below.

 

Rest in Peace, Colette.