Marcel Dupré was born on 3 May 1886 in Rouen. His father, Albert, was an organist and his mother, Marie-Alice Chauviére, was a cellist. In 1888 he began his organ studies with Alexandre Guilmant and gave his first public performance in 1894. He was admitted to the Paris Conservatoire in 1902, receiving First Prize for piano in 1905, for organ and improvisation in 1907, and for fugue in 1909. In 1906 he was appointed Widor's assistant at the church of St Sulpice, in Paris, and was awarded the Prix de Rome in 1914 for his cantata Psyché. In 1920, he performed from memory the complete organ works of J. S. Bach in a series of ten recitals at the Paris Conservatoire, an achievement that brought him world recognition. His American début soon...