Louise Farrenc

Jeanne-Louise Dumont was born on May 31st 1804 in Paris. Her parents descended from famous artist families which had been well known as painters, sculptors and engravers ever since the 17th century. At a very young age Louise already received piano lessons from her godmother Cécile Soria. At the age of fifteen she received her first composition lessons from Anton Reicha at the Conservatoire, later on from Johann Nepomuk Hummel. In 1821, Louise married the flute player and publisher Aristide Farrenc. In 1825, her first piano works were published, from 1830 onwards also chamber music (mostly with piano) as well as orchestra works (including ouvertures and three symphonies). In 1842, Louise Farrenc was appointed professor for piano at the Conservatoire – as the only woman! The classes being separated according to sex at the time – she exclusively taught girls. From 1843 onward one of these girls was her own daughter Victorine who was very talented. Not only the classes were separated but also the professors` salaries. Mrs. Farrenc annually received 200 Fr. less than her male colleagues. Only after having corresponded with the director she was granted a raise of salary after 8 years of teaching in 1850. Louise Farrenc undertook various concert tours throughout the country and abroad, one of them to England. These concert tours were always very successful. Her – mostly male – reviewers praised her compositions and her instrumentation throughout (among them H. Berlioz and R. Schumann).
The composer remained true to her classical principles and never became addicted to momentary composing fashions. For her works she was awarded with the “Prix Chartier” in 1861 and 1869 for outstanding chamber works. Her daughter Victorine`s death in the year 1859 nearly made her give up her compository activities entirely. Her husband Aristide who had published his wife`s compositions by “Editions Farrenc” died on 31st January in 1865. In 1873, Louise Farrenc gave up her teaching activities at the Conservatoire after 30 years. Two years later, on 15th September 1875, she died in Paris. Unfortunately, her compositions were forgotten. But luckily her works were rediscovered 100 years after her death and are experiencing a well deserved renaissance.