Role

:

Composer  

Country

:

Venezuela

Birth

:

December 22, 1853 in Caracas, Venezuela

Death

:

June 12, 1917 in New York City, NY

Period

:

Romantic

 

 

Modern

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Keyboard

 

Teresa Carreño was a Venezuelan pianist, composer, and conductor who was born on December 22, 1853, in Caracas, Venezuela. She was the daughter of Manuel Antonio Carreño, a composer, pianist, and conductor, and Clorinda García de Sena y Toro, a singer. Her father was her first music teacher, and she showed exceptional talent from a young age. At the age of six, Carreño gave her first public performance in Caracas, and by the age of eight, she had already composed her first piece of music. In 1862, her family moved to New York City, where she continued her music education under the tutelage of Louis Moreau Gottschalk, a renowned pianist and composer. She also studied with other prominent musicians, including Anton Rubinstein and Hans von Bülow. Carreño's talent as a pianist was quickly recognized, and she began performing in concerts throughout the United States and Europe. In 1866, she made her debut in London, where she received critical acclaim for her performance of Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 1. She also performed for Queen Victoria and other members of the royal family. In 1868, Carreño married Emile Sauret, a French violinist, and they had a son named Emile Sauret Jr. However, the marriage was short-lived, and they divorced in 1873. Carreño continued to perform and compose music, and in 1876, she married Italian pianist and conductor Giovanni Tagliapietra. Carreño's compositions were influenced by the Romantic era, and she wrote music for piano, orchestra, and voice. Some of her most famous works include the Piano Concerto in C minor, the Symphony in D minor, and the opera "Ginevra." She also wrote numerous solo piano pieces, including "Un rêve en mer," "La Fée aux Chansons," and "Le Sommeil de l'Enfant." In addition to her career as a composer, Carreño was also a renowned pianist and conductor. She conducted the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra in 1892, becoming the first woman to conduct a major orchestra. She also conducted the New York Philharmonic and the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Carreño was known for her virtuosic piano playing, and she was praised for her ability to convey emotion through her performances. She was also a trailblazer for women in music, breaking down barriers and paving the way for future generations of female musicians. Carreño's personal life was marked by tragedy, as she lost her son and her second husband to illness. She also faced financial difficulties later in life, and she was forced to sell her home and many of her possessions. However, she continued to perform and compose music until her death on June 12, 1917, in New York City. Today, Carreño is remembered as one of the most important composers and pianists of the Romantic era. Her music continues to be performed and recorded, and her legacy as a trailblazer for women in music lives on.

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