Period

:

Romantic

Genre

:

Chamber

 

Marie Goossens was a renowned classical harpist who was born on June 27, 1911, in London, England. She was the youngest of six siblings, all of whom were musicians. Her father, Eugene Goossens, was a famous conductor and composer, while her mother, Marie, was a pianist. Growing up in a musical family, Marie was exposed to music from a very young age and began playing the harp at the age of six. Marie's talent for the harp was evident from the beginning, and she quickly became a prodigy. She studied under the tutelage of her mother and later with the famous harpist Carlos Salzedo. At the age of 14, she made her debut performance at the Royal Albert Hall in London, playing the Handel Harp Concerto. This performance was a huge success, and it marked the beginning of her career as a professional harpist. In 1930, Marie joined the BBC Symphony Orchestra as their principal harpist, a position she held for over 30 years. During her time with the orchestra, she performed in countless concerts and recordings, becoming one of the most sought-after harpists in the world. She also performed with other orchestras, including the London Symphony Orchestra and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Marie's talent and dedication to her craft earned her numerous awards and accolades throughout her career. In 1951, she was awarded the Harriet Cohen International Music Award, which recognized her as one of the most outstanding young musicians of her time. She was also awarded the Order of the British Empire in 1965 for her services to music. One of the highlights of Marie's career was her performance at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. She played the harp during the ceremony, which was broadcast to millions of people around the world. This performance cemented her reputation as one of the greatest harpists of her time. Marie was also a prolific recording artist, and she recorded numerous albums throughout her career. Her recordings of the works of Debussy, Ravel, and Britten are considered some of the best interpretations of these composers' works. In addition to her work as a performer, Marie was also a dedicated teacher. She taught at the Royal Academy of Music in London and at the Juilliard School in New York. Many of her students went on to become successful harpists in their own right. Marie retired from performing in 1971, but she continued to teach and mentor young musicians until her death in 1990. Her legacy as one of the greatest harpists of the 20th century lives on through her recordings and the countless musicians she inspired and taught throughout her career.

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