Caroline Montigny-Rémaury

Caroline Montigny-Rémaury (French pronunciation: [kaʁɔlin mɔ̃tiɲi ʁemoʁi]; 22 January 1843 in Pamiers – 19 June 1913 in the 8th arrondissement of Paris) was a French classical pianist.

Biography

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Caroline Montigny-Remaury was the wife of publicist Léon Montigny.[1] When she became a widow, she married Auguste Wieczffinski de Serres (1841–1900), an engineer of the Ponts et chaussées.[2] She was the sister of painter Léontine Rémaury[3] who was the wife of the painter Louis Bauderon de Vermeron,[4] the sister-in-law of Ambroise Thomas, director of the Conservatoire de Paris.

She was the mother of Jean-Maurice-Charles Montigny, (born 18 October 1866, Paris 9th, prefect of the Sarthe department, and Alice Montigny, pen name Henry Ferrare,[5] the wife of sculptor Émile Lafont, (marriage on 3 July 1894, Paris 9th).[6]

She was a pupil of Franz Liszt. She performed in the provinces and abroad, Bordeaux, Lyon, London, where her appearance caused a sensation, and at the Gürzenich Orchestra Cologne, where she had been at the request of Ferdinand Hiller, and where she obtained a real triumph.

A virtuoso pianist, she was an inspiration to many composers and was often dedicated pieces by Pierné, Fauré, and Saint-Saëns. In 1880 Fauré dedicated his Barcarolle No 1 in A minor, Op 26 to her. It was premiered by Saint-Saëns at a concert of the Société Nationale de Musique in 1882.[7] In 1886 Saint-Saëns wrote his Wedding-Cake[8] for her second marriage in 1886 (she then became Caroline de Serres Wieczffinski), and dedicated her his Études pour la Main gauche seule, opus 135[9] (1912), after she had seriously wounded her right hand, and with which she could no longer play.

She died 19 June 1913[10] aged 70 in her home, 2 Cité Odiot, and was buried at Père Lachaise Cemetery.[11]

References

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  1. ^ Obituary of Léon Montigny Le Temps 4 January 1872
  2. ^ Funeral of Auguste Wieczffinski de Serres Le Temps 24 August 1900
  3. ^ Mme Bauderon de Vermeron, née Léontine Rémaury, artiste peintre in Dictionnaire général des artistes de l'École française depuis l'origine des arts du dessin jusqu'à nos jours; T1 ; Émile Bellier de La Chavignerie and Louis Auvray; 1882–1885, page 43.
  4. ^ Funeral at Montmartre Cemetery of Louis Bauderon de Vermeron Le Temps 4 November 1870
  5. ^ Mme Henry Ferrare, daughter of Mme Montigny-Rémaury, the great pianist and niece of Ambroise Thomas Le Gaulois 24 October 1912
  6. ^ Marriage of M. Emile Lafon, nephew of the admiral, with Miss Alice Montigny, daughter of Mme Montigny-Rémaury Le Matin 6 July 1894
  7. ^ Anderson, Keith (1996). Notes to Fauré Barcarolles. Naxos Records. OCLC 178968388.
  8. ^ Wedding cake . R 124 on data.bnf.fr
  9. ^ Camille Saint-Saens – Étude pour la main gauche seule Op. 135 No. 4
  10. ^ Obituary of Fanny-Marceline-Caroline Rémaury Le Ménestrel 28 June 1913
  11. ^ Funeral of Mme Caroline Montigny-Rémaury Gil Blas 21 June 1913
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