Milanollo, (Domenica Maria) Teresa

views updated

Milanollo, (Domenica Maria) Teresa

Milanollo, (Domenica Maria) Teresa, Italian violinist; b. Sa vigliano, near Turin, Aug. 28, 1827; d. Paris, Oct. 25, 1904. She studied solfège with her father and violin with Giovanni Ferrere, Mauro Caldera, and Giovanni Morra. On April 17, 1836, she made her debut at the Mondovi Theater. After playing in Marseilles, she toured the Netherlands with Lafont. In 1837 she performed with Johann Strauss Sr., in England. Following further training with Francis Mori, she toured Wales with the harpist Bochsa in 1838. She returned to France, where she began teaching her sister, Maria (b. Savigliano, July 19, 1832; d. Paris, Oct. 21, 1848). The two continued their studies with Bériot, and subsequently Teresa honed her technique under Habeneck’s guidance in Paris (1840–41). From 1842 the sisters toured with notable success, Teresa as Mile. Adagio and Maria as Mile. Staccato. Teresa also received some composition lessons from F. Kufferath in Brussels. After Maria’s untimely death from tuberculosis, Teresa devoted herself to giving benefit concerts. In 1852 she resumed her formal concert career. Upon her marriage in 1857 she withdrew from public appearances. Among her compositions were opera transcriptions for 2 Violins and Orch. and many solo violin pieces, including the Fantaisie élégiaque, written in memory of her sister.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire