Gabriel Tacchino

Gabriel Tacchino (; 4 August 1934 – 29 January 2023) was a French classical pianist and teacher.

Life and career Tacchino was born in Cannes on 4 August 1934. He studied at the Paris Conservatoire from 1947 to 1953, where his teachers included Jacques Février and Marguerite Long. He also studied with Francis Poulenc, the only pianist ever to do so; consequently, his interpretation of Poulenc's piano music reveals a special insight into the composer's intentions.

His early prizes included the Viotti Competition (1st prize, 1953); the Busoni Competition (1954, 2nd prize); Casella International Competition (1954; 1st prize); the Geneva Competition (1955; joint 2nd prize with Malcolm Frager); and the Marguerite Long-Jacques Thibaud Competition (1957, 4th prize).

Herbert von Karajan was instrumental in Tacchino getting his break, by engaging him to play with various orchestras including the Berlin Philharmonic. and also held master classes.

Having taught at his alma mater the Paris Conservatoire 1975–1994, he later taught at the University of Fine Arts and Music (Geidai) in Tokyo, the Mozarteum University in Salzburg, Académie internationale d'été de Nice, and at the Schola Cantorum in Paris.

David Dubal wrote of Tacchino: "A splendid pianist. His playing is buoyant and well planned."

Tacchino died on 29 January 2023, at the age of 88.