Charles-Wilfrid de Bériot
Encyclopedia
Charles-Wilfrid de Bériot (12 February 183322 October 1914) was a French pianist, teacher and composer.
He was born in Paris
in 1833, the son of the violinist Charles Auguste de Bériot and his then common-law wife, the famed soprano Maria Malibran
(they were to marry when Charles-Wilfrid was three, but his mother died only three months later as a result of a fall from a horse, while pregnant with Charles-Wilfrid’s sibling). His stepmother, Maria Huber, was an orphan who had been adopted by Prince von Dietrichstein, the natural father of Sigismond Thalberg
. Thalberg was one of Charles-Wilfrid's earliest teachers.
He became a professor of piano at the École Niedermeyer, and later at the Paris Conservatoire, where his pupils included Maurice Ravel
and Ricardo Viñes
. His private students included Enrique Granados
. As a teacher, he insisted on extreme refinement in tone production, which strongly influenced Granados’s own teaching of pedal technique.
He composed four piano concertos. There is also a Sonata for Two Pianos, Op. 61. His Flute Sonata, Op. 64 has been recorded. Many of his scores are preserved at the Ricardo Viñes Piano Music Collection at the University of Colorado at Boulder.
Ravel dedicated his Rapsodie espagnole
to Charles-Wilfrid de Bériot.
He died at Sceaux-du-Gâtinais
in 1914, aged 81.
He was born in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
in 1833, the son of the violinist Charles Auguste de Bériot and his then common-law wife, the famed soprano Maria Malibran
Maria Malibran
The mezzo-soprano Maria Malibran , was one of the most famous opera singers of the 19th century. Malibran was known for her stormy personality and dramatic intensity, becoming a legendary figure after her death at age 28...
(they were to marry when Charles-Wilfrid was three, but his mother died only three months later as a result of a fall from a horse, while pregnant with Charles-Wilfrid’s sibling). His stepmother, Maria Huber, was an orphan who had been adopted by Prince von Dietrichstein, the natural father of Sigismond Thalberg
Sigismond Thalberg
Sigismond Thalberg was a composer and one of the most distinguished virtuoso pianists of the 19th century.- Descent and family background :...
. Thalberg was one of Charles-Wilfrid's earliest teachers.
He became a professor of piano at the École Niedermeyer, and later at the Paris Conservatoire, where his pupils included Maurice Ravel
Maurice Ravel
Joseph-Maurice Ravel was a French composer known especially for his melodies, orchestral and instrumental textures and effects...
and Ricardo Viñes
Ricardo Viñes
Ricardo Viñes was a Spanish pianist. He first publicly performed many important works by Maurice Ravel, Claude Debussy, Erik Satie, Manuel de Falla, Déodat de Séverac and Isaac Albéniz. He was also the piano teacher of composer Francis Poulenc and pianist Léo-Pol Morin.He was born in Lleida,...
. His private students included Enrique Granados
Enrique Granados
Enrique Granados y Campiña was a Spanish pianist and composer of classical music. His music is in a uniquely Spanish style and, as such, representative of musical nationalism...
. As a teacher, he insisted on extreme refinement in tone production, which strongly influenced Granados’s own teaching of pedal technique.
He composed four piano concertos. There is also a Sonata for Two Pianos, Op. 61. His Flute Sonata, Op. 64 has been recorded. Many of his scores are preserved at the Ricardo Viñes Piano Music Collection at the University of Colorado at Boulder.
Ravel dedicated his Rapsodie espagnole
Rapsodie espagnole
Rapsodie espagnole is an orchestral rhapsody written by Maurice Ravel. Composed between 1907 and 1908, the Rapsodie represents one of Ravel's first major works for orchestra....
to Charles-Wilfrid de Bériot.
He died at Sceaux-du-Gâtinais
Sceaux-du-Gâtinais
Sceaux-du-Gâtinais is a commune in the Loiret department in north-central France.-See also:*Communes of the Loiret department...
in 1914, aged 81.