Maria Theresia von Paradis, 1784
The Austrian composer, pianist, organist, and singer Maria Theresia von Paradis (1759-1824) received a broad musical education and was performing in Viennese salons and concert rooms by 1775. Prominent composers including Salieri, Mozart, and possibly Haydn composed piano and organ concerti for her.
Paradis undertook an extended tour towards Paris and London in 1783 during which she visited Mozart and presented concerts in Frankfurt and other cities en route to her destination. In April 1784 the Journal de Paris reviewed her saying: “one must have heard her to form an idea of the touch, the precision, the fluency and vividness of her playing.” During the next six months, she made at least 14 public concert appearances in Paris before traveling to London for performances at court. Paradis continued touring throughout Western Europe for several years before returning to Vienna, where she devoted most of her time to composing. Her extant compositions include art songs, five operas, and three cantatas. Several piano sonatas and concerti are lost.
Paradis was also a dedicated educator. As a young child she became blind, and during her time in Paris, she assisted with establishing the first school for the blind. In 1808, she founded her own music school for girls where she taught piano, singing, and music theory. Her advanced students were featured in a regular concert series at the school, and Paradis continued to teach until her death in 1824.
Resources
Sources
Angermüller, Rudolph, Hidemi Matsushita, and Ron Rabin. “Paradis [Paradies], Maria Theresia.” Grove Music Online. 2001.
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