Maria Szymanowska
Polish
Born 1789, Died 1831
Maria Szymanowska was born in Poland in 1789. Despite a lack of formal music education, her pianistic talent allowed for an ambitious tour of Europe culminating in Paris where she played before royalty. Meanwhile, her concerned family arranged for Maria to marry landowner Jozef Szymanowski. After the marriage, the growing success of her musical career led to marital strife and an eventual divorce in 1820. Maria supported her three children as the first professional female pianist in Europe.
In 1827, Maria relocated to Russia where Czar Alexander I titled her “First Pianist of the Royal Princesses Elizabeth and Maria.” She died in the St Petersburg cholera epidemic of 1831.
Maria gave over 100 concerts in her lifetime, often performing whole recitals from memory, unique for the time. Her lyrical style and virtuosic technique were praised by audiences, music critics and composers including Clementi, Field, and Chopin. She wrote 110 compositions, mostly chamber music and piano pieces.
In 1827, Maria relocated to Russia where Czar Alexander I titled her “First Pianist of the Royal Princesses Elizabeth and Maria.” She died in the St Petersburg cholera epidemic of 1831.
Maria gave over 100 concerts in her lifetime, often performing whole recitals from memory, unique for the time. Her lyrical style and virtuosic technique were praised by audiences, music critics and composers including Clementi, Field, and Chopin. She wrote 110 compositions, mostly chamber music and piano pieces.