Pleyel, Maria Felicite (1811–1875)

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Pleyel, Maria Felicite (1811–1875)

French pianist admired by both Liszt and Chopin who dedicated compositions to her. Born Maria Felicite Moke in Paris on July 4, 1811; died at Saint-Josse-Ten-Noode near Brussels, Belgium, on March 30, 1875; married Camille Pleyel.

Maria Felicite Pleyel was born in Paris in 1811 and studied with Moscheles, Herz and Friedrich Kalkbrenner, and later with Thalberg. She had an impressive career as a pianist and was admired by Chopin and Liszt. Indeed, both composers dedicated pieces to her—Chopin, his Nocturnes Op. 9, and Liszt, his Norma paraphrase. Hector Berlioz fell in love with her, but she chose to marry the piano builder Camille Pleyel. Critic François Joseph Fétis believed her to be the most perfect of any pianist. From 1848 to 1872, she was the best-known teacher at the Brussels Conservatory.

John Haag , Athens, Georgia