Christ a vaincu la mort

Toccata pour orgue

Thierry Pallesco was born in Paris in 1956. He began his studies at the Ecole Nationale de Musique d'Orsay with André Isoir and continued at the Conservatoire Nationale Supérieur de Musique de Paris with Rolande Falcinelli. He graduated with a series of prizes: Premier Prix d'Harmonie (1980), Premier Prix de Contrepoint (1981), Premier Prix de Fugue (1982) and Second Prix d'Orgue (1983). In 1984, he reached the final of the ‘Amis de l'Orgue’ composition competition. Since 1977, he has taught piano at the Conservatoire National de Région de Versailles and, since 1986, organ at the Ecole Municipale de Musique d'Igny. In 1984, he became organist at the Cathedral of Saint-Spire in Corbeil-Essonnes, and in 1987, he also became co-director of the Conservatoire de Musique de Malakoff.

The toccata ‘Christus hat den Tod besiegt’ (Christ has conquered death) was premiered by the composer on 26 February 1989 in Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris. It refers to the events of Easter and is characterised by its virtuosity and depth of expression.