Mathilde Verne
Encyclopedia
Mathilde Verne was an English pianist and teacher, of German descent.
She was born Mathilde Wurm, in Southampton
, England
, the fourth of ten children, all of whom were musically gifted. She was initially a student of Franklin Taylor. She had the opportunity to play to Clara Schumann
, who took her to Frankfurt for further study. Clara also entrusted the musical tuition of her own granddaughter, Julie Schumann, and other of her pupils, to Mathilde Verne.
She made her debut in St James's Hall in London, playing a Mendelssohn piano trio. She frequently appeared as soloist under conductors such as Arthur Nikisch
, Hans Richter
, Sir August Manns
and Sir Henry J. Wood. She twice visited the United States, and played under Theodore Thomas. She became especially famous for her authentic playing of the works of Robert Schumann
. In London, she was strongly associated with the "Tuesday 12 O'Clock Concerts" of chamber music from 1907 to 1936.
Pupils flocked from all over the world to her school, "Mathilde's College", in London, founded in 1909. Her pupils, aside from her sister, Adela
, and her nephew, John Vallier
, included Solomon; Dame Moura Lympany
, Harold Samuel
, Herbert Menges
and Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon
(the future Queen Elizabeth, HM The Queen Mother).
Mathilde Verne has been ranked as one of Europe's greatest music teachers, along with Theodor Leschetizky, Ferruccio Busoni
, Isidor Philipp
and Tobias Matthay
. Another sister, Alice Verne was also a piano teacher and composer.
Mathilde Verne died in London
in 1936, aged 71.
She was born Mathilde Wurm, in Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, the fourth of ten children, all of whom were musically gifted. She was initially a student of Franklin Taylor. She had the opportunity to play to Clara Schumann
Clara Schumann
Clara Schumann was a German musician and composer, considered one of the most distinguished pianists of the Romantic era...
, who took her to Frankfurt for further study. Clara also entrusted the musical tuition of her own granddaughter, Julie Schumann, and other of her pupils, to Mathilde Verne.
She made her debut in St James's Hall in London, playing a Mendelssohn piano trio. She frequently appeared as soloist under conductors such as Arthur Nikisch
Arthur Nikisch
Arthur Nikisch ; 12 October 185523 January 1922) was a Hungarian conductor who performed internationally, holding posts in Boston, London and - most importantly - Berlin. He was considered an outstanding interpreter of the music of Bruckner, Tchaikovsky, Beethoven and Liszt...
, Hans Richter
Hans Richter (conductor)
Hans Richter was an Austrian orchestral and operatic conductor.-Biography:Richter was born in Raab , Kingdom of Hungary, Austro-Hungarian Empire. His mother was opera-singer Jozsefa Csazenszky. He studied at the Vienna Conservatory...
, Sir August Manns
August Manns
Sir August Friedrich Manns was a German-born conductor who made his career in England. After serving as a military bandmaster in Germany, he moved to England and soon became director of music at London's Crystal Palace. He increased the resident band to full symphonic strength and for more than...
and Sir Henry J. Wood. She twice visited the United States, and played under Theodore Thomas. She became especially famous for her authentic playing of the works of Robert Schumann
Robert Schumann
Robert Schumann, sometimes known as Robert Alexander Schumann, was a German composer, aesthete and influential music critic. He is regarded as one of the greatest and most representative composers of the Romantic era....
. In London, she was strongly associated with the "Tuesday 12 O'Clock Concerts" of chamber music from 1907 to 1936.
Pupils flocked from all over the world to her school, "Mathilde's College", in London, founded in 1909. Her pupils, aside from her sister, Adela
Adela Verne
Adela Verne was a notable English pianist and minor composer of German descent. She was considered one of the greatest woman pianists of her era, ranked alongside the male keyboard giants of the time. She toured with great success in many parts of the world.Adela Verne was born into a musical...
, and her nephew, John Vallier
John Vallier
John Vallier was an English classical pianist and composer. He was the son of the famous French bass Jean Vallier and the English pianist Adela Verne ....
, included Solomon; Dame Moura Lympany
Moura Lympany
Dame Moura Lympany DBE was an English concert pianist.She was born as Mary Gertrude Johnstone at Saltash, Cornwall. Her father was an army officer who had served in World War I and her mother originally taught her the piano...
, Harold Samuel
Harold Samuel
Not to be confused with Harold Samuel, Baron Samuel of Wych Cross Harold Samuel was a distinguished English pianist and pedagogue. He was one of the first pianists of the 20th century to focus purely on the works of Johann Sebastian Bach, and was known for his academic and cerebral approach...
, Herbert Menges
Herbert Menges
Herbert Menges OBE was an English conductor and composer, who wrote incidental music to all of Shakespeare’s plays.-Life and career:...
and Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon
Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon
Elizabeth Angela Marguerite Bowes-Lyon was the queen consort of King George VI from 1936 until her husband's death in 1952, after which she was known as Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, to avoid confusion with her daughter, Queen Elizabeth II...
(the future Queen Elizabeth, HM The Queen Mother).
Mathilde Verne has been ranked as one of Europe's greatest music teachers, along with Theodor Leschetizky, Ferruccio Busoni
Ferruccio Busoni
Ferruccio Busoni was an Italian composer, pianist, editor, writer, piano and composition teacher, and conductor.-Biography:...
, Isidor Philipp
Isidor Philipp
Isidor Philipp was a French pianist, composer, and distinguished pedagogue of Hungarian descent. He was born in Budapest and died in Paris.-Biography:...
and Tobias Matthay
Tobias Matthay
Tobias Augustus Matthay was an English pianist, teacher, and composer.-Biography:Matthaw as born in London in 1858 to parents who had come from northern Germany and were naturalised British subjects...
. Another sister, Alice Verne was also a piano teacher and composer.
Mathilde Verne died in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1936, aged 71.