Jean-Joël Barbier, born on March 25, 1920, in Belfort, France, was a French pianist and writer. He studied piano with Blanche Selva and Lazare Lévy while completing a degree in Greek and Latin literature. His studies were interrupted during World War II. He initially turned to writing, publishing novels and contributing to La Revue musicale. Barbier’s performing career focused mainly on French repertoire, particularly works by Debussy, Chabrier, and Déodat de Séverac. In 1966, he appeared as an actor in Robert Bresson’s Au hasard Balthazar, also performing the "Andantino" from Schubert’s Piano Sonata No. 20 in A major, D. 959 for the soundtrack. In 1971–1972, he recorded the complete solo piano works of Erik Satie, with volume 4 receiving the Grand Prix de l’Académie Charles-Cros. He died on May 31, 1994, in Paris.
