Remembering Denise Massé
Six months ago, the opera world mourned the loss of a beloved French coach and pianist, Denise Massé (April 2, 1946 - June 14, 2022).
Last week, I found my iPod (remember those?) that I had purchased in 2005. As I attempted to navigate around the now unfamiliar click wheel, I came across a playlist titled, “Lessons and Masterclasses.” I heard many familiar voices from my Juilliard and Lindemann days including a recording of a coaching with Denise from my summer at the Ravinia Steans Institute in 2008.
“Laura, that is the fastest ritenu I have ever heard.”
I can only smile. Each coaching with Denise demanded one’s complete focus — not just for the singer but also for the pianist. She will be remembered for her meticulous attention to detail, her passion in teaching and enormous generosity in working with her students.
I always enjoyed running into her at the Met and we wrote to each other occasionally throughout the years. In her last email to me in 2019, she wrote, “thank you to have thought of me and continue your beautiful life.”
Merci Denise
Opera News: January 2008 Vol. 72 No. 7 Line Readings with Fred Plotkin (Paywall)
From February 2014: Denise Massé : la pianiste devenue chef de chant au MET
Obituary, photos and shared memories on Dignity Memorial
Obituary in The Juilliard Journal (page 48)
A tribute on Slipped Disc
An article from La Presse: Denise Massé inducted into the Canadian Opera Hall of Fame in 2013
Opéra de Montréal’s Canadian Opera Hall of Fame
(French) Denise speaks at ca. 3:00
(French) Denise first appears ca. 13:30
Denise performs with Roland Richard, baritone
Denise performs with soprano Diana Soviero ca. 2:34
(Audio) Denise speaks ca. 5:27
Performance of Schumann Lieder
Juilliard Masterclass with José van Dam in Paris
(French) Denise speaks ca. 19:42
Denise performs with Yolande Parent, soprano
Recital with Rockwell Blake, tenor
Performance of “Adieu Robert Schumann”
(French) Denise appears ca. 5:07
(French) Denise appears ca. 1:03