Background
Chapuis was born in Dole, Jura, France and had his early training there, on the organ of the Cathedral of Dole.
music educator musicologist organist university professor
Chapuis was born in Dole, Jura, France and had his early training there, on the organ of the Cathedral of Dole.
In 1943 he studied the piano with Émile Poillot in Dijon.
He is especially known as an interpreter of the French and the German Baroque masters and he is dedicated to historically informed performances: These performances are noted for their refined and distinguished renditions - a listener will want to hear and listen again to these individual performances. In 1945 came his first serious study of the organ with Jeanne Marguillard, organist of the Besançon Cathedral. He then studied at the École César Franck in Paris under René Mahlherbe (composition) and Édouard Souberbielle (organ).
Chapuis was organist for the Paris churches of Saint Germain l"Auxerrois 1951-1954 and Saint Nicolas des Champs 1954-1972, accompanied at Notre Dame 1955-1964, and was titular organist of Saint Séverin from 1964.
He also toured widely as a concert artist. From 1956-1979 he was Professor at the Conservatoire de Strasbourg, 1979-1986 at the Besançon Conservatoire, and 1986-1995 at the Paris Conservatoire.
In 1996-2010, he was organist at the Versailles Royal Chapel. He has performed every surviving piece of French organ music from the 17th and 18th centuries on the Cliquot organ of Saint Nicolas des Champs.
He has produced numerous recordings matching early repertoire to historic instruments.
His important recordings include the complete organ works of Johann Sebastian Bach (1966), considered by many as one of best recordings of this oeuvre. Michel Chapuis has been in the forefront in France in his efforts to restore and build organs.
