Francesca Lebrun

Full biography Francesca Lebrun

Francesca Lebrun, born as Franziska Dorothea Danzi in 1756, was a prominent German composer, pianist, and singer of the classical era. She was the daughter of the cellist Innocenz Danzi and the sister of the composer Franz Danzi. Lebrun was widely known for her vocal and instrumental compositions and her exceptional violin skills. She was a part of the Mannheim School, where her father worked, as a child musician. Later on, she moved to Paris, where she performed at the Concert Spirituel and became the protégé of the queen, Marie Antoinette.

Lebrun's compositions include symphonies, vocal and instrumental chamber music, and numerous romances and operas. Her violin sonatas were published in various cities across Europe, and she was particularly famous for her ravishing vocal performances, which attracted audiences from across Europe. She was a pioneer of her time, not only as a female composer but as a composer who transcended the gender bias that existed among the male-dominated music circles in the late 18th century.

Lebrun's exceptional musical prowess caught the attention of several famous music historians, including Charles Burney, who considered her works as powerful and expressive. Her music was greatly admired by such renowned composers as Haydn and Beethoven. Even though her music was largely forgotten after her death in 1791, today she is recognized as one of the most important female composers of the Classical era, whose works still resonate among the music lovers.