PARIS - French classical pianist Genevieve Joy has died at the age of 90, her husband, the composer Henri Dutilleux, said Saturday.

Joy, who interpreted numerous 20th century composers including Dutilleux, died in her sleep on Friday in a Paris hospital, her husband said.

Born in 1919 in northern France's Somme region, Joy became a pupil at the Paris Conservatoire, winning prizes for her piano-playing, and returned there as a teacher.

She married Dutilleux in 1946.

Joy formed a long-lasting piano partnership with Jacqueline Robin, and in 1970 ten composers wrote duets for them to mark their 25 years together.