Role

:

Composer  

Country

:

France

Birth

:

July 5, 1879 in Warsaw, Poland

Death

:

August 16, 1959 in Lakeville, CT

Period

:

Contemporary

Genre

:

Concerto

 

 

Keyboard

 

Wanda Landowska was a Polish-French harpsichordist and pianist who was born on July 5, 1879, in Warsaw, Poland. She was the daughter of a lawyer and a singer, and her family was musically inclined. Landowska began playing the piano at a young age and showed great talent. She studied at the Warsaw Conservatory and later at the Berlin Hochschule für Musik. In 1900, Landowska moved to Paris, where she became a prominent figure in the city's musical scene. She began performing on the harpsichord, an instrument that was not widely played at the time. Landowska was instrumental in reviving interest in the harpsichord and in the music of the Baroque era. Landowska's performances were highly acclaimed, and she became known for her virtuosic playing and her innovative interpretations of Baroque music. She also began to experiment with the design of the harpsichord, creating a new instrument that was larger and more powerful than traditional harpsichords. This new instrument, which she called the Pleyel-Landowska harpsichord, became her signature instrument and was widely used by other harpsichordists. In 1925, Landowska founded the École de Musique Ancienne in Paris, which was dedicated to the study and performance of early music. The school attracted students from all over the world and helped to establish Landowska as a leading authority on Baroque music. Landowska continued to perform and teach throughout her career, and she received numerous awards and honors for her contributions to music. In 1951, she was awarded the Légion d'honneur, the highest civilian honor in France. She also received honorary doctorates from several universities, including the University of Oxford and the University of Chicago. Landowska died on August 16, 1959, in Lakeville, Connecticut, at the age of 80. She left behind a legacy as one of the most important figures in the revival of early music and the harpsichord. Her innovative approach to music and her dedication to teaching continue to inspire musicians today.

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