Teresa Carreño

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Teresa Carreño

Born December 22, 1853(1853-12-22)
Caracas, Venezuela
Died June 12, 1917 (aged 63)
New York City, U.S.

María Teresa Carreño García de Sena (December 22, 1853 - June 12, 1917) was a Venezuelan pianist, singer, composer, and conductor. Born into a musical family, she was at first taught by her father and her talent was recognized at an early age. In 1862 her family emigrated to New York City, and at the age of 8 she made her debut at Irving Hall that same year. In 1863 she performed for Abraham Lincoln at the White House.

Plaque commemorating Teresa Carreño at the place of her death
Plaque commemorating Teresa Carreño at the place of her death

In 1866 Teresa moved to Europe, and began touring, making her debut as an opera-singer in 1876. It wasn't until 1885 that she returned to Venezuela, and then only for a short period. In 1889 she returned to Europe for more touring, settling in Berlin as her home base. She mounted two world tours in the early years of the twentieth century, but her health deteriorated and she died in 1917, in New York City.

Teresa married four times: from 1873 to 1875 to violinist Émile Sauret by whom she had a daughter, Emilita; from 1876 to 1891 in a common-law union with Italian opera-singer Giovanni Tagliapietra, by whom she had two surviving children, Giovanni and Teresita, the latter became a famous pianist too under the name of Teresita Tagliapietra-Carreño. From 1892 to 1895 she was married to pianist Eugen d'Albert, himself oft-married, and together they produced two more daughters, Eugenia and Hertha; from 1902 to 1917 to Arturo Tagliapietra, her former brother-in-law.

Teresa Carreño was also a composer; she composed at least 40 works for piano, 2 for voice and piano, 2 for choir and orchestra, and 2 as chamber music. She also left many incomplete works. On April 2, 1905, she recorded 18 pieces for the reproducing piano Welte-Mignon. Her daughter Teresita recorded in 1906 for Welte-Mignon as well.

She died in her apartment in the Della Robbia at 749 West End Avenue on the north east corner at 96th Street in New York City.

The Teresa Carreño Cultural Complex in Caracas is named after her.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links