"I tell you, there is a great line of women stretching out behind you into the past, and you need to seek them out and find them in yourself and become conscious of them."
--Doris Lessing, English writer,
b. 1919

Yesterday's Concert Pianists
Alphabetical Listing

The following list includes women pianists who concertized on a national or international level during their lifetime, and spans birthdates from the 1750's to the 1900's (deceased). Source codes after each name indicate biographical entries in the following recent references:
A = "The Art of the Piano" by David Dubal, second edition, 1995
B = "Bakers Biographical Dictionary of Musicians", Centennial edition, 2001
(B5) = last entry in 5th edition, 1958;(B6) 6th ed., 1978; (B7)7th ed., 1984;(B8)8th ed., 1992
G = "The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, 2nd edition, 2001
(G5) = last entry in 5th edition, 1954; (GN) = last entry in New Grove, 1st ed., 1980

Lucy Anderson(b. England, Dec. 12, 1790; d. Dec. 24, 1878)[A, B, G]
Piano teacher to Queen Victoria; first woman to solo with the Royal Philharmonic Society.
Anna Antoniades (Xydis)(b. Krasnodar, Russia, 1916(?), d. ?)
Greek pianist, gave concert tours for over 40 years in Europe and U.S.; several outstanding recordings.
Annie d'Arco (b. Marseilles, Oct. 28, 1920; d. Paris, March 5, 1998)[A, G]
Student of Marguerite Long; solo and chamber music recitalist; taught at Paris Consv.; award-winning recordings.
Josepha Auernhammer(b. Vienna, Sept. 25, 1758; d. Jan. 30, 1820)[G]
Student of Mozart, proofread his sonatas and performed with him; active performer into her mid-fifties; published composer.
Adele aus der Ohe(b. Hanover, Dec. 11, 1864; d. Berlin, Dec. 7, 1937)[A, B]
Student of Kullak and Liszt (age 12-19); first concert at age 10; toured Europe frequently and U.S. every year, 1886-1904; also composed.
Gina Bachauer (b. Athens, May 21, 1913; d. Athens, Aug. 22, 1976)[A, B, G]
Student of Cortot and Rachmaninoff; performed 600 concerts in Egypt for WWII troops; London debut, 1946; U.S. debut, 1950, where toured annually rest of life.
Aline van Barentzen (b. Somerville, Mass., July 7, 1897; d. 1981)
1st recital age 4; student of M.Long & Leschetizky; youngest pianist to win First Prize/Paris Consv.; perf. extensively in Europe; taught at Paris Consv. 1954-on
Ethel Bartlett(b. London, June 6, 1896; d. Los Angeles, April 17, 1978)[A, B5]
Student of Matthay and Schnabel; most famous as duo-pianist with husb., Rae Robertson; extensive tours, recordings, commissioned duo-piano works
Amy Beach (b. Henniker, NY, Sept. 5, 1867; d. New York, NY, Dec. 27, 1944)[B, G] Performing pianist 1883-1885, primarily composed during marriage, 1885-1910, returned to concert stage with European tours 1910-1913; known most as composer
Elena Beckman-Scherbina(b. Russia, 1881; d. 1951)[A]
Russian pianist recorded music by Anton Rubenstein, Rachmaninoff, and Scriabin, whom she knew.
Anne Caroline de Belleville-Oury(b. Landshut, Bavaria, June 24, 1808; d.Munich, July 22, 1880) [A, B, G] Student of Czerny; one of first women to tour widely, 1820-1831; marr. violinist, Oury, and toured together 1831-1846; composed thereafter
Marie Bigot de Morouges (b. Colmar, France, Mar 3, 1786; d. Paris, Sept. 16, 1820)[A, B, G] Friend of Beethoven, performed his music frequently in Vienna with great success; moved to Paris where she taught Mendelssohn briefly; also composed
Sari Biro (b. Budapest, March 24, 1912; d. San Francisco, Sept. 2, 1990)
Marie Leopoldine Blahetka(b. Austria, Nov. 15, 1811; d. France, Jan. 12, 1887) [A, B, G] At 5 years her playing impressed Beethoven; student of Moscheles and Kalkbrenner; toured Europe until 1840; also composer and physharmonica player
Fannie Bloomfield Zeisler (b. Bielitz, Austria, July 16, 1863; d. Chicago, Aug. 20, 1927)[A, B, G] Raised in U.S.; student of Leschetizky 1878-1883; toured worldwide thereafter; performed wide variety of repertoire for over 50 years to great acclaim
Felicja Blumental (b. Warsaw, Dec. 28, 1908; d. Dec. 31, 1991) [A, B, G]
Studied at Warsaw Consv.; debut 1938; emigrated to Brazil, 1942; Villa-Lobos wrote 5th P.Concerto for her; toured worldwide 1955-on; many recordings/neglected works
Mary Louise Boehm+ (b. Sumner, Iowa, July 25, 1928; d. 2002)
Leontine Bordes-Pene(b. Lorient, France, Nov. 25, 1858; d. Rouen, Jan. 24, 1924) [A, B7, G] First prize from Paris Consv., 1872; premiered many French works, incl. Franck and d'Indy, who dedicated works to her; only taught after stroke in 1890
Kathleen Bruckshaw(b. London, Jan. 5, 1877; d. London, Oct. 10, 1921)[A, B5]
Debut, age 12, in A. Rubinstein's 4th P.Concerto; student of Stavenhagen and Busoni, whose concerto she performed in 1914; published composer
Teresa Carreno(b. Caracas, Ven, Dec. 22, 1853; d. New York, June 12, 1917)[A, B, G] emigrated to U.S. and debut, 1862; student of Gottschalk, Matthias, A. Rubinstein; concert tours 1865-75; then operatic singer until 1889 when Berlin debut launched major piano career; 4 husb. incl. d'Albert; also published composer
Gaby Casadesus (b. Marseilles, Aug 9, 1901; d. Paris, Nov. 12, 1999)[A, B, G]
Student of Deimer and Marguerite Long at Paris Consv. with top honors; duo-piano concerts/recordings with husb., Robert, solo recordings French music and Mozart
Cecile Chaminade (b. Paris, Aug. 8, 1857; d. Monte Carlo, April 18, 1944)[A, B, G] Touring concert pianist, 1875-1900's; famous as composer of over 350 works
Winifred Christie(b. Stirling, Scotland, Feb. 26, 1882; d. London, Feb. 8, 1965) [A, B5] Student of H. Bauer; many tours of Europe and U.S., 1915-on; marr. Emanuel Moor, 1923, and promoted his double keyboard in concert tours until 1939
Wilhelmine Clauss-Szarvady(b. Prague, Dec. 13, 1834; d. Paris, Nov. 1, 1907) [A, G5] debut 1849; lived in Paris and toured Europe often; acclaimed by Berlioz, Liszt and Schumann; Scarlatti, Bach and Beethoven specialist
Dame Harriet Cohen(b. England, Dec. 2, 1895; d. Nov. 13, 1967)[A, B, G]
Student of Matthay, later prof. at his school; debut 13 yrs.old; toured Europe and Eng. often; specialist in Bach and 20th C. English; R.hand inj. 1948; composer/author
Augusta Cottlow(b. Shelbyville, Ind., April 2, 1878; d. White Plains, NY, April 11, 1954) [B7] Debut age 6, with orch. age 10, toured U.S. age 12-18; student of Busoni age 18-on; popular in Europe; mature U.S. debut, 1900; many tours US/Europe
Halina Czerny-Stefanska (b. Poland, Dec. 30, 1922; d. July 1, 2001) [A, B, G]
Kathleen Dale(b. England, Jun. 29, 1895; d. Mar. 3, 1984)[A, G]
Student of Y. Bowen and Fanny Davies; taught Matthay School, 1925-31; broadcast concerts 1927-31; noted musicologist and composer (as Kathleen Richards)
Jean-Marie Darre(b. Givet, France, July 30, 1905; d. Port Marly, Fr, Jan. 26, 1999) [A, B, G] Student of Marguerite Long and I. Philipp; debut, 1920; taught at Paris Consv., 1958-on; concertized extensively over 60 years; wide repertoire
Fanny Davies(b. Guernsey, June 27, 1861; d. London, Nov. 1, 1934)[A, B, G]
Student of Reinecke and Clara Schumann; London debut, 1885; specialized in Brahms, Beethoven, Schumann, also Eng. virginal music; 1st to perf. West. Ab.,1921
Lucette Descaves (b. Paris, April 1, 1906; d. Paris, April 15, 1993)
Ruth Deyo(b. Poughkeepsie, NY, Ap. 20, 1884; d. Cairo, Mar. 4, 1960)[B]
Student of W. Mason and Teresa Carreno (comp. MacDowell); debut 1893, concert tours 1904-1925, maj. orch. US/Europe; moved to Cairo as composer rest of life
Ania Dorfmann(b. Odessa, July 9, 1899; d. N.Y., April 21, 1982)[A, B]
Duo with Heifitz as child in Russia; Student of I. Philipp, age 12; European tours, 1920-on; US debut, 1936, and moved there; Julliard faculty, 1966-on
Louisa Dulcken(b. Hamburg, Mar. 20, 1811; d. London, April 12, 1850)[A, B, G]
Debut age 10; 1828 marr. and settled in London where became famous performer and teacher; taught Q. Victoria; published composer; son, Ferdinand, concert pianist
Ilona Eibenschutz(b. Budapest, May 8, 1872; d. London, May 2, 1967)[A, G]
Toured Europe age 6-10 yrs; student of Clara Schumann; praised by Brahms, Rubenstein, Liszt; mature debut 1890, toured with great success until marr. in 1902
Lonny Epstein(b. Frankfurt/Main, Mar. 6, 1885; d. N.Y., Mar. 9, 1965)[A]
Student of Kwast and Friedberg; active performer over 40 years, Mozart specialist; Julliard faculty
Dorthea von Ertmann(b. Offenbach am Main, May 3, 1781; d. Vienna, Mar. 16, 1849) [A, B, G] Beethoven admired her playing and gave her lessons; friends from 1804-on; she promoted and performed much of his music; dedicatee of Op.101
Anna Essipova(see Yesipova)
Edith Farnadi (b. Hungary, Sept. 25, 1921; d. Dec. 12 or 14, 1973)[A, B, G6]
Debut age 9; student of Bartok, Kodaly, Weiner at Budapest's Liszt Academy; active concert career 1942-on; large repertoire incl. complete works of Liszt, Bartok
Jeanne Louise Farrenc (b. France, May 31,1804; d. Nov. 15, 1875) [A, B, G]
Piano faculty Paris Consv. 1842-73, highest ranking woman in 1800s; famous pianist/major composer; published, with husb., 1st complete keyboard music (23 vols.)
Victoria Louise Farrenc(b. France, Feb. 23, 1826; d. Jan. 3, 1859)[B5, G]
Daughter (only child) and student of Jeanne Louise F., won first prize Paris Consv. 1844; perf. with orchestras, 1845; early death
Amy Fay(b. Bayou Goula, Miss., May 21, 1844; d. Watertown, Mass., Feb. 28, 1928) [A, B, G] Student of Tausig, Kullak & Liszt; wrote popular book about her studies in Europe; performed and taught in Boston, Chicago & N.Y.; promoted women in music
Annie Fischer (b. Budapest, July 5, 1914; d. Budapest, April 10, 1995)[A, B, G]
Student of Dohnanyi; orch. debut age 8; 1st prize Liszt Int. Piano Comp., 1933; extensive performing primarily in Europe
Etelka Freund (b. Hungary, 1879; d. Zurich, May 27, 1977)
Lillian Freundlich (b. Ohio, Mar. 13, 1912; d. 1999)
Student at Julliard of Siloti, the Lhevinnes and Steurmann; NY debut 1941; U.S. & European solo and duo career with husb., Irwin; taught many years at Peabody Consv.
Fanny Frickenhaus(b. Cheltenham, June 7, 1849; d. London, Aug. 8, 1913)[A, G5]
Student of Busoni; friend of Brahms & Bartok; marr. & stopped perf. 1910; 1936 resumed concerts in Europe; 1947 U.S. debut
Cecile Genhart(b. Basel, 1898; d. 1983) [A]
Arabella Goddard(b. Saint-Servan, France, Jan. 12, 1836; d. Boulongne-sur-Mer, Ap. 6, 1922) [A, B, G]
Katharine Goodson(b. Watford, June 18, 1872; d. Ap. 14, 1958)[A, B, G]
Maria Grinberg (b. Russia, Sept. 6, 1908; d. 1979)[G]
Agathe Backer Grondahl (b. Holmestrand, Norway, Dec. 1, 1847; d.Ormoen, Norway, April 4, 1907)[A, B, G]
Youra Guller (b. France, May 16, 1895; d. Jan. 11, 1981)
Alma Haas(b. Ratibor, Jan. 31, 1847; d. London, Dec. 12, 1932)[G5]
Monique Haas (b. Paris, Oct. 20, 1906; June 6, 1987)[A, B, G]
Elsie Hall(b. South Africa, June 22, 1879; d. June 27, 1976)[A, G]
Hazel Harrison (b. May 12, 1883, La Porte, Indiana; d. April 29, 1969, Washington, D.C.)[G]
Clara Haskil (b. Budapest, Jan. 7, 1895; d. Brussels, Dec. 7, 1960)[A, B, G]
Joyce Hatto(b. London, Sept. 5, 1928; d. Royston, Eng. June 30, 2006)
Dame Myra Hess (b. London, Feb. 25, 1890; d. Nov. 25, 1965)[A, B, G]
Katherine Ruth Heyman(b. Calif., 1877; d. Sep. 28 or 18, 1944)[A, B]
Natalie Hinderas (b. Oberlin, Ohio, June 16, 1927; d. Philadelphia, July 22, 1987)[B, GN]
Helen Hopekirk(b. Edinburgh, May 20, 1856; d. Cambridge, Mass., Nov. 19, 1945) [A, B, G]
Marie Jaell-Trautmann (b. Steinseltz Alsace, Aug. 17, 1846; d. Paris, Feb. 7, 1925)[A, B, G]
Bertha Jahn-Beer(b. Vienna, Mar. 1, 1883, d.?)
Natalie Janotha(b. Warsaw, June 8, 1856; d. The Hague, June 9, 1932)[A, G]
Maryla Jonas (b. Poland, May 31, 1911; d. Jul. 3, 1959) [A, B]
Eileen Joyce (b. Tasmania, Jan. 1, 1908; d. England, Mar. 25, 1991) [A, G]
Ilona Kabos (b. Hungary, Dec. 7, 1893; d. May 27, 1973) [A, B, G]
Lilian Kallir (b. Prague, May 6, 1931; d. New York, October 25, 2004)
Constance Keene + (b. NY, Feb. 9, 1921; d. Dec. 24, 2005)
Clotilde Kleeberg(b. Paris, June 27, 1866; d. Brussels, Feb. 7, 1909)[A, G5]
Gwendolyn Koldofsky (b. Canada, Nov. 1, 1906; d. Santa Barbara, Nov. 12, 1998)
Lubka Kolessa (b. Lvov, Ukraine, May 19,1904; d. Toronto, Canada, 1997)
Lili Kraus (b. Budapest, March 4, 1903; d. Asheville, North Carolina, Nov. 6, 1986) [A, B, G]
Marie Krebs-Brenning(b. Dresden, Dec. 5, 1851; d. Dresden, June 27, 1900) [B, G]
Frieda Kwast-Hoddap(b. Bargen, Germany, Aug. 13, 1880; d. Bad Wiessee, Sept. 14, 1949) [B, G5]
Wanda Landowska (b. Warsaw, July 5, 1877; d. Lakewood, Conn. Aug. 16, 1959)[A, B, G]
Adelina de Lara(b. Carlisle, England, Jan. 23, 1873; d. Nov. 25, 1961)[A, G]
Ruth Laredo #+ (b. Detroit, Michigan, Nov. 20, 1937; d. New York, May 25, 2005)
Yvonne Lefebure(b. France, June 29, 1898; d. Jan. 21, 1986)[A, B, G]
Ethel Leginska (Liggins) (b. Hull, Eng., Ap. 13, 1886; Feb. 26, 1970)[A, B, G]
Tina Lerner(b. Odessa, June 5, 1890 - ?)
Ray Lev (b. Rostove, Russia, May 8, 1912; d. N.Y., May 20, 1968)
Rosina Lhevinne (b. Kiev, Mar, 28, 1880; d. Nov. 9, 1976) [A, B, G]
Erika Lie-Nissen (b. Norway, Jan. 17, 1845; d. Oct. 27, 1903)[B]
Kathleen Long(b. Eng., Jul. 7, 1896; d. Mar. 20, 1968)[A, B, G]
Marguerite Long (b. Nimes, France, Nov. 13, 1874; d. Feb. 13, 1966) [A, B, G]
Dame Moura Lympany (b. England, Aug. 18, 1916; d. March 28, 2005)
Adele Marcus (b. Feb. 22, 1906; d. May 3, 1995) [G]
Anna Mehlig (b. Stuttgart, July 11, 1846; d. Berlin, July 26, 1928)[A, B]
Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel (b. Hamburg, Nov. 14, 1805; d. Berlin, May 14, 1847)[A, B, G]
Sophie Menter(b. Munich, July 29, 1846; d. Stackdorf, Ger., Feb. 23, 1918) [A, B, G]
Hephzibah Menuhin (b. San Francisco, May 20, 1920; d. London, Jan. 1, 1981)[B, G]
Yaltah Menuhin (b. San Francisco, October 7, 1921; d. June 9, 2001)[G]
Yolanda Mero-Irion(b. Budapest, Aug. 30, 1887; d. Oct. 17, 1963)[A, B7]
Marcelle Meyer(b.Lille, FR, May 22, 1897; d. Paris, Nov. 17,1958) [A, G]
Caroline Montigny-Remaury(b. Pamiers, France, Jan. 22, 1843; d. Pamiero, June 29, 1913) [G5]
Angelica Morales (b. Mexico, b. Jan. 22, 1911; d. April 17, 1996)
Maria Anna Mozart (b. Austria, Jul. 30, 1751; d. Oct. 29, 1829) [B, G]
Ethel Newcomb (b. Whitney Point, NY, Oct. 30, 1875; d. Whitney Point, NY, July 3, 1959)
Elly Ney(b. Dusseldorf, Sept. 27, 1882; d. Tuteing, Mar. 31, 1968)[A, B, G]
Tatiana Nikolayeva (b. Bezhitz, May 4, 1924; d. San Francisco, Nov. 13, 1993)[A, B, G]
Guiomar Novaes (b. Sao Joao da Bao Vista, Brazil, Feb. 28, 1895; d. Sao Paulo, Mar. 7, 1979) [A, B, G]
Eunice Norton (b.)
Maggie Oakey (b. Mudgee, NSW, Australia, Dec. 15, 1864; d. Jul. 2,1952)
Marie Pachler-Koschak(b. Graz, Austria, Oct. 2, 1792; d. Graz, April 10, 1855) [B]
Maria Therese von Paradis (b. Vienna, May 15, 1759; d. Vienna, Feb. 1, 1824) [A, B, G]
Marie Pleyel (b. Paris, July 4, 1811; d. Saint-Josse-Ten-Noodle, Brussels, Mar 30, 1875) [A, G]
Barbara Ployer(b. Sarmingstein, Austria, Sept. 2, 1765; d. Bresane/Croatia, 1810)
Nadia Reisenberg (b. Vilna, Russia, July 14, 1905; d. New York, June 10, 1983)[A, B8, G]
Rosita Renard (b. Chile, Feb. 18, 1894; d. May 24, 1949) [A, G]
Julie Rive-King(b. Cincinnati, Oct. 31, 1857; d. Indianapolis, July 24, 1937) [A, B, G]
Antoniette Rudge(b. Brazil, 1884; d. Brazil, 1974)
Pnina Salzman (b. Tel-Aviv, Feb. 24, 1924; d. Tel-Aviv, Dec. 16, 2006)
Olga Samaroff-Stowkowski (b. San Antonio, Aug. 8, 1882; d. New York, May 17, 1948)[A, B8, GN]
Irene Scharrer(b. London, Feb. 2, 1888; d. Jan. 11, 1971)[A, B, G]
Helen Schnabel (b. New York, July 22, 1911; d. Lake Como, Italy, Sept. 29, 1974)
Germaine Schnitzer(b. France, May 28, 1888; d. Sept. 18, 1982)
Clara Schumann (b. Leipzig, Sept. 13, 1819; d. Frankfurt-am-Main, May 20, 1896)[A, B, G]
Philippa Schuyler (b. August 2, 1931, New York, NY; d. May 9, 1967, Vietnam)[B, G]
Phyllis Sellick (b. England, June 16, 1911; d. May 26, 2007)
Blanche Selva(b. Brive, France, Jan. 29, 1884; d. Saint-Amand, Dec. 3, 1942) [A, B, G]
Hilde Somer(b. Austria, Feb. 11, 1930; d. Freeport, Bahamas Dec. 24, 1979) [B]
Claudette Sorel(b. Paris, Oct. 10, 1932; d. Hampton Bays, N.Y., Aug. 6, 1999) [A]
Lillian Steuber (b. 1908, d. California, 1977)
Evelyn Suart(b. India, Apr. 30, 1881; d. London, Oct. 26, 1950)[A, G5]
Antoinette Szumowska(b. Poland, Feb. 22, 1868; d. Aug. 18, 1938)[A, B, G5]
Maria Szymanowska (b. Warsaw Dec. 14, 1789; d. St. Petersburg, July 24, 1831)[A, B, G]
Magda Tagliaferro (b. Brazil, Jan. 19, 1890; d. Sept. 10, 1986)[A, B8, G]
Germaine Thyssens-Valentin(b. Holland, 1902; d. 1987)
Vera Timanoff (b. Russia, Feb. 18, 1855; d. Leningrad, 1942)[A, B5]
Madeleine de Valmalete (1899-199?)
Rosalyn Tureck #+ (b. Chicago, IL, Dec. 14, 1914; d. New York, July 17, 2003)
Marie-Aimee Varro (b. Prunoy, France, Feb. 18, 1915, d. Neuchatel, Switzerland, Sept. 14, 1971)
Isabella Vengerova(b. Minsk, Mar. 1, 1877; d. New York, Feb. 7, 1956)[A, B, G]
Adele Verne(b. Southampton, Eng., Feb. 27, 1877; d. London, Feb. 5, 1952)[B8, G5]
Mathilde Verne (b. Southampton, Eng., May 25, 1865; d. London, June 4, 1936) [A, B8, G5]
Vitya Vronsky(b. Russia, Aug. 22, 1909; d. June 28, 1992)[A, B, G]
Anna Yesipova(b. St. Petersburg, Feb. 12, 1851; d. same, Aug. 18, 1914)[A, B, G]
Student of Leschetizky (also wife 1880-92); many tours in Europe/US: 669 concerts 1870-1885; faculty St. Petersburg Consv. 1893-1908, many famous students
Maria Yudina (b. Russia, Sept. 10, 1899; d. Nov. 20, 1970) [A, B, G]
Agnes Zimmerman(b. Cologne, July 5, 1847; d. London, Nov. 14, 1925)[A, B, G]

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