Paul Crossley
Paul Christopher Richard Crossley (born 17 May 1944) is a British pianist. While a student at Mansfield College, Oxford, he was discovered by Olivier Messiaen and his wife Yvonne Loriod, who heard him play and immediately invited him to come to Paris to study with them. In 1968 he was second prize winner (joint prize winner with Japanese pianist Izumi Tateno) at the Messiaen Competition in Royan, France.
Also recorded as Paul Christopher Richard Crossley
Paul Crossley
- Born
- 1944 · Dewsbury.
- Nationality
- United Kingdom
- Occupation
- conductor · pianist · music arranger · musician
- Fields
- classical music
- Education
- Mansfield College
- Honours
- Commander of the Order of the British Empire
- Languages
- English
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Paul Christopher Richard Crossley (born 17 May 1944) is a British pianist. While a student at Mansfield College, Oxford, he was discovered by Olivier Messiaen and his wife Yvonne Loriod, who heard him play and immediately invited him to come to Paris to study with them. In 1968 he was second prize winner (joint prize winner with Japanese pianist Izumi Tateno) at the Messiaen Competition in Royan, France.
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Crossley is particularly associated with the music of Messiaen and British composers such as Michael Tippett, Nicholas Maw and George Benjamin. Tippett wrote his third and fourth piano sonatas specifically with Crossley in mind. His extensive discography includes the piano works of Tippett, Fauré, Debussy and Ravel and the Fauré violin sonatas with Arthur Grumiaux. Crossley was artistic director of the London Sinfonietta from 1988 to 1994. He presented a landmark television series on avant garde classical music entitled Sinfonietta for Channel 4.
Paul Crossley is recorded with the occupation musician. Classed in the genre classical music. Recorded as conductor, pianist, music arranger and musician.
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The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 18 August 2026.
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