Short bio Louise Farrenc
Full biography Louise Farrenc
Louise Farrenc was a composer and pianist who lived in the 19th century. She was born on May 31, 1804, in Paris, France. She showed a remarkable talent for music at a very young age and started her studies with her father, Jacques-Edme Farrenc, who was a flautist.
Farrenc studied at the Paris Conservatoire where she focused on piano, composition, and music theory. She excelled in her studies and was soon appointed as a professor of piano at the conservatory. However, it wasn't until later in her life that her compositions gained recognition.
Farrenc's compositions were influenced by the works of Beethoven and Mendelssohn, but she had her unique voice that set her apart from her contemporaries. Her works were characterized by their grandeur, their elegance, and their technical sophistication.
Farrenc's compositions include three symphonies, three overtures, and numerous chamber works such as string quartets and pieces for piano and winds. Her most famous work is her Symphony No. 3 in G minor, which was written in 1847 and premiered the following year at the Société des Concerts du Conservatoire. Her work received critical acclaim and was hailed as a masterpiece.
Despite her success, Farrenc was still faced with systematic prejudice against women composers. She was paid a fraction of what male composers were paid, and her works were often overshadowed by her male contemporaries. However, Farrenc continued to compose and teach until her retirement in 1872.
Today, Louise Farrenc's music is experiencing a revival, and her works are being rediscovered by the modern audience. Her contributions to the world of classical music have finally been recognized, and her name stands alongside some of the greatest composers of her time.
Compositions featuring Louise Farrenc
| # | Name | Duration | Genre | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Trio for flute (or violin), cello & piano in E minor, Op. 45 | 25:03 min | Chamber Music | 1857 |
| 2 | Sonata for cello & piano in B flat major, Op. 46 | 24:28 min | Chamber Music | 1857 |
| 3 | Études (20) de moyenne difficulté, for piano, Op. 42 | 21:59 min | Keyboard | 1854 |
| 4 | Études Brillantes (12) for piano, Op. 41 | 22:22 min | Keyboard | 1853 |
| 5 | Sonata for violin & piano No. 1 in C minor, Op. 37 | 20:49 min | Chamber Music | 1848 |
| 6 | Piano Trio No. 1 in E flat major, Op. 33 | 31:19 min | Chamber Music | 1841 |
| 7 | Etudes (30) dans tous les tons majeurs et mineurs, for piano, Op. 26 | 70:41 min | Keyboard | 1838 |
| 8 | Grandes Variations on a theme by Count Gallenberg, Op. 25 | 15:38 min | Keyboard | 1837 |
| 9 | Souvenir des Huguenots, for piano, Op. 19 (after Meyerbeer) | 6:26 min | Keyboard | 1837 |
| 10 | Les Italiennes, 3 cavatinas for piano, Op. 14 | 6:50 min | Keyboard | 1835 |
| 11 | Variations concertantes sur un air suisse, for violin & piano, Op. 20 | 10:18 min | Chamber Music | 1835 |
| 12 | Overture No. 2 in E flat major, Op. 24 | 7:04 min | Orchestral | 1834 |
| 13 | Overture No. 1 in E minor, Op. 23 | 6:57 min | Orchestral | 1834 |
| 14 | Variations Brillantes sur un thème du "Colporteur" de G. Onslow, for piano, Op. 10 | 11:14 min | Keyboard | 1828 |
| 15 | Variations on the duet "C'est la fête de village" from George Onslow's Le Colporteur, for piano, Op. 10 | 9:30 min | Keyboard | 1828 |
| 16 | Grandes Variations sur l'air "Le Premier Pas", for piano, Op. 4 | 18:06 min | Keyboard | 1824 |
| 17 | Variations Brillantes sur un thème d'Aristide Farrenc, for piano, Op. 2 | 11:35 min | Keyboard | 1822 |
| 18 | Sonata for violin & piano No. 2 in A major, Op. 39 | 28:24 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 19 | Variations Brillantes sur un thème (air) de la Cenerentola de Rossini, for piano, Op. 5 | 8:35 min | Keyboard | - |
| 20 | Variations brillantes over the cavatina "Nel veder la tua costanza" from Donizetti's Anna Bolena, for piano, Op. 15 | 11:52 min | Keyboard | - |
| 21 | Variations sur l'air favori "O Ma Tendre Musette!", for piano, Op. 6 | 7:00 min | Keyboard | - |
| 22 | Valse brillante for piano, Op. 48 | 7:26 min | Keyboard | - |
| 23 | Études (25) faciles, for piano, Op. 50 | 24:57 min | Keyboard | - |
| 24 | Trio for clarinet, cello & piano in E flat major, Op. 44 | 27:03 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 25 | Theme and Variations for piano in G major | 3:24 min | Keyboard | - |
| 26 | Theme and Variations for piano in F major | 2:47 min | Keyboard | - |
| 27 | Symphony No. 3 in G minor, Op. 36 | 33:06 min | Symphony | - |
| 28 | Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 35 | 34:08 min | Symphony | - |
| 29 | Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Op. 32 | 32:33 min | Symphony | - |
| 30 | Adieux à la Suisse, thème de Bruguière, variations for piano | 3:46 min | Keyboard | - |
| 31 | Sextet for piano & winds in C minor, Op. 40 | 25:46 min | Keyboard | - |
| 32 | Piano Trio No. 2 in D major, Op. 34 | 24:19 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 33 | Piano Quintet No. 2 in E major, Op. 31 | 30:28 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 34 | Piano Quintet No. 1 in A minor, Op. 30 | 28:53 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 35 | Nonet for strings & winds in E flat major, Op. 38 | 29:18 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 36 | Nocturne for piano, Op. 49 | 5:05 min | Keyboard | - |
| 37 | Mélodie for piano in A flat major | 2:20 min | Keyboard | - |
| 38 | Impromptu for piano in B minor | 2:10 min | Keyboard | - |
| 39 | Air Suisse Varié, for piano, Op. 7 | 8:24 min | Keyboard | - |
| 40 | Air russe varié, for piano, Op. 17 | 11:37 min | Keyboard | - |
Albums featuring Louise Farrenc
| # | Сover | Name album | Year | Music label |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
Louise Farrenc, Insula Orchestra, Laurence Equilbey – Symphonies 1-3, Overtures In E Minor - E Flat | 2023 | Erato |
| 2 |  |
Amy Beach, Sonia Eckhardt-Gramatté, Louise Farrenc, Mel Bonis, Julia Smith (2), Thomas Albertus Irnberger, David Geringas, Barbara Moser (2) – It's A Girl(SACD, Hybrid, Multichannel, Album) | 2021 | Gramola |
| 3 |  |
Louise Farrenc, Insula Orchestra, Laurence Equilbey – Symphonies 1 & 3(CD, Album) | 2021 | Erato |
| 4 |  |
Chopin, Farrenc, Saint-Saëns, David Berlin (2), Benjamin Martin (5) – French Cello Sonatas(CD, Album) | 2020 | ABC Classics |
| 5 |  |
Louise Farrenc, Joanne Polk – Etudes & Variations For Solo Piano(CD, Album) | 2020 | Steinway & Sons |
| 6 |  |
Ironwood (2), Saint-Saëns, Farrenc – Romantic Dreams(CD, ) | 2020 | ABC Classics |
| 7 |  |
Louise Farrenc, Jean Muller (2), Solistes Européens, Luxembourg, Christoph König (2) – Symphony No. 1 / Overtures / Grand Variationss On A Theme By Count Gallenberg(CD, ) | 2020 | Naxos |
| 8 |  |
Beach, Clarke, Farrenc - Neave Trio – Her Voice(CD, Album) | 2019 | Chandos |
| 9 |  |
Farrenc, Biliana Tzinlikova – Variations For Piano(CD, Album) | 2018 | Paladino Music |
| 10 |  |
Louise Farrenc, Solistes Européens Luxembourg, Christoph König (2) – Louise Farrenc (1804-1875): Symphonies Nos. 2 and 3(CD, Album) | 2018 | Naxos |
| 11 |  |
Wind Sextets Trios(2×CD, Album, Stereo) | 2017 | Brilliant Classics |
| 12 |  |
Louise Farrenc, Quintetto Bottesini – Piano Quintets(CD, Album, Stereo) | 2014 | Brilliant Classics |
| 13 |  |
Louise Farrenc, Johannes Brahms, Minerva Chamber Ensemble, Kevin Geraldi – Nonetto In E Flat Major, Op. 38 / Serenade In D Major, Op. 11(CD, ) | 2011 | Centaur Records |
| 14 |  |
Louise Farrenc – Linos Ensemble – Piano Trios • Sextet(CD, ) | 2009 | cpo |
| 15 |  |
Emily Beynon, Hilary Tann, Amy Beach, Sally Beamish, Thea Musgrave, Louise Farrenc – Flute & Friends(SACD, Hybrid, Multichannel, Stereo, Album) | 2008 | Channel Classics |
| 16 |  |
Louise Farrenc, Gaëtane Prouvost, Laurent Cabasso – L'Œuvre Pour Violon & Piano(CD, Album, Stereo) | 2008 | Integral Classic |
| 17 |  |
Das Neue Zürcher Orchester - Mozart, Brahms, Farrenc – Das Neue Zürcher Orchester Spielt Mozart Brahms Farrenc(CD, ) | 2006 | Zürcher Stadtmission |
| 18 |  |
Musique De Chambre(CD, ) | 2005 | Naïve |
| 19 |  |
Louise Farrenc – NDR Radiophilharmonie, Johannes Goritzki – Symphony 2 • Overtures 1 & 2(CD, Album, Stereo) | 2004 | cpo |
| 20 |  |
Meininger-Trio, Katherine Hoover, Marcelle de Manziarly, Louise Farrenc – Hoover . de Manziarly . Farrenc(CD, Album) | 2003 | New Classical Adventure |
| 21 |  |
Louise Farrenc, Konstanze Eickhorst – Piano Works(CD, Album, Stereo) | 2003 | cpo |
| 22 |  |
Louise Farrenc, Stefan Sanderling, Orchestre de Bretagne – Les 3 Symphonies(2×CD, Album, Stereo) | 2002 | Disques Pierre Verany |
| 23 |  |
Louise Farrenc, The Schubert Ensemble Of London – The Two Piano Quintets(CD, Album) | 2001 | ASV Digital |
| 24 |  |
Nonett Es-Dur Op.38, Sextett C-Moll Op.40(CD, ) | 2000 | Bayer Records |
| 25 |  |
Louise Farrenc, Linos Ensemble – Piano Quintets Op. 30 & 31(CD, Repress) | 2000 | cpo |
| 26 |  |
Louise Farrenc - Radio-Philharmonie Hannover Des NDR, Johannes Goritzki – Symphonies 1 & 3(CD, Album, Stereo) | 1998 | cpo |
| 27 |  |
Louise Farrenc - Vincent d'Indy – The Piano Concertos - Ouverture "Improvisator"(CD, ) | 1996 | Pan Classics |
| 28 |  |
Clara Schumann, Fanny Mendelssohn, Louise Farrenc, Marie Grandval, Ambache Chamber Orchestra & Ensemble, Diana Ambache – Konzertsatz In F Minor / Piano Trio In D Minor, Op. 11 / Clarinet Trio In E Flat, Op. 44 / Deux Pièces | 1996 | BBC Music Magazine |
| 29 |  |
Louise Farrenc ; Clara Schumann - Streicher Trio – Trio In E, Op. 45; Trio In G, Op. 17(CD, Album) | 1996 | Music & Arts |
| 30 |  |
Louise Farrenc, Ambache Chamber Ensemble – Chamber Music | 1996 | Ambache |
| 31 |  |
Meininger-Trio, Farrenc, Boulanger, Manziarly, Gubaidulina, Waring – Kammermusik Für Flöte Von Komponistinnen(CD, Album) | 1995 | Bayer Records |
| 32 |  |
Jeanne-Louise Farrenc, Consortium Classicum, Dieter Klöcker, Peter Hörr, Werner Genuit – Nonett Op.38, Clarinet Trio Op.44(CD, ) | 1994 | Divox |
| 33 |  |
Louise Farrenc / Luise Adolpha Le Beau, Clara Wieck Trio – Klaviertrio Nr. 2 D-Dur Op. 34 / Trio D-moll Op. 15(CD, Stereo) | 1992 | Bayer Records |
| 34 |  |
Louise Farrenc, Franz Berwald - Abegg Trio – Romantische Klaviertrios | 1991 | Intercord |
| 35 |  |
Louise Farrenc, Clara Faisst, Luise Adolpha LeBeau, Emilie Mayer - Thomas Blees, Maria Bergmann – Musik Für Violoncello Und Klavier Von Komponistinnen Des 19. Jahrhunderts = Music For Cello And Piano By Female Composers Of The 19th Century(CD, ) | 1990 | FSM (2) |
| 36 |  |
Bronx Arts Ensemble, Josef Rheinberger, Louise Farrenc – Nineteenth Century Nonets(LP) | 1981 | Leonarda Productions |
| 37 |  |
Trio No. 2; Piano Music(LP) | - | Musical Heritage Society |
Videos featuring Louise Farrenc
Laurence Equilbey, Insula Orchestra – Louise Farrenc: Symphony No. 1, Op. 32: IV. Allegro assai
Louise Farrenc was a prominent and pioneering composer within the Parisian music scene in the 19th century. Champions of her repertoire, Laurence Equilbey and her period-instrument Insula Orchestra devote this album to two of her three symphonies: https:/
Symphony No. 1 in C Minor, Op. 32: I. Andante sostenuto. Allegro
Provided to YouTube by Warner Classics
Symphony No. 1 in C Minor, Op. 32: I. Andante sostenuto. Allegro · Laurence Equilbey
Louise Farrenc: Symphonies Nos. 1-3, Overtures Nos. 1 & 2
℗ 2021 ERDA, under exclusive licence to Parlophone Records Limited
Or
Symphony No. 1 in C Minor, Op. 32: II. Adagio cantabile
Provided to YouTube by Warner Classics
Symphony No. 1 in C Minor, Op. 32: II. Adagio cantabile · Laurence Equilbey
Louise Farrenc: Symphonies Nos. 1-3, Overtures Nos. 1 & 2
℗ 2021 ERDA, under exclusive licence to Parlophone Records Limited
Orchestra:
Laurence Equilbey, Insula Orchestra – Louise Farrenc: Symphony No. 3, Op. 36: III. Scherzo: vivace
"It deserves to be a mainstay of the repertoire," Laurence Equilbey says of the Third Symphony of Louise Farrenc, which the conductor describes as "immaculate construction". Discover her album with Insula Orchestra devoted to this 19th-century Parisian fi
Symphony No. 1 in C Minor, Op. 32: III. Minuetto. Moderato
Provided to YouTube by Warner Classics
Symphony No. 1 in C Minor, Op. 32: III. Minuetto. Moderato · Laurence Equilbey
Louise Farrenc: Symphonies Nos. 1-3, Overtures Nos. 1 & 2
℗ 2021 ERDA, under exclusive licence to Parlophone Records Limited
Orchestr
Symphony No. 1 in C Minor, Op. 32: IV. Allegro assai
Provided to YouTube by Warner Classics
Symphony No. 1 in C Minor, Op. 32: IV. Allegro assai · Laurence Equilbey
Louise Farrenc: Symphonies Nos. 1-3, Overtures Nos. 1 & 2
℗ 2021 ERDA, under exclusive licence to Parlophone Records Limited
Orchestra: Ins
Symphony No. 3 in G Minor, Op. 36: I. Adagio. Allegro
Provided to YouTube by Warner Classics
Symphony No. 3 in G Minor, Op. 36: I. Adagio. Allegro · Laurence Equilbey
Louise Farrenc: Symphonies Nos. 1-3, Overtures Nos. 1 & 2
℗ 2021 ERDA, under exclusive licence to Parlophone Records Limited
Orchestra: In
Symphony No. 3 in G Minor, Op. 36: II. Adagio cantabile
Provided to YouTube by Warner Classics
Symphony No. 3 in G Minor, Op. 36: II. Adagio cantabile · Laurence Equilbey
Louise Farrenc: Symphonies Nos. 1-3, Overtures Nos. 1 & 2
℗ 2021 ERDA, under exclusive licence to Parlophone Records Limited
Orchestra:
Symphony No. 3 in G Minor, Op. 36: III. Scherzo. Vivace
Provided to YouTube by Warner Classics
Symphony No. 3 in G Minor, Op. 36: III. Scherzo. Vivace · Laurence Equilbey
Louise Farrenc: Symphonies Nos. 1-3, Overtures Nos. 1 & 2
℗ 2021 ERDA, under exclusive licence to Parlophone Records Limited
Orchestra:
Symphony No. 3 in G Minor, Op. 36: IV. Finale. Allegro
Provided to YouTube by Warner Classics
Symphony No. 3 in G Minor, Op. 36: IV. Finale. Allegro · Laurence Equilbey
Louise Farrenc: Symphonies Nos. 1-3, Overtures Nos. 1 & 2
℗ 2021 ERDA, under exclusive licence to Parlophone Records Limited
Orchestra: I
Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 35: I. Andante. Allegro
Provided to YouTube by Warner Classics
Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 35: I. Andante. Allegro · Laurence Equilbey
Louise Farrenc: Symphonies Nos. 1-3, Overtures Nos. 1 & 2
℗ 2023 ERDA, under exclusive licence to Parlophone Records Limited
Orchestra: I
Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 35: II. Andante
Provided to YouTube by Warner Classics
Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 35: II. Andante · Laurence Equilbey
Louise Farrenc: Symphonies Nos. 1-3, Overtures Nos. 1 & 2
℗ 2023 ERDA, under exclusive licence to Parlophone Records Limited
Orchestra: Insula Or
Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 35: III. Scherzo. Vivace
Provided to YouTube by Warner Classics
Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 35: III. Scherzo. Vivace · Laurence Equilbey
Louise Farrenc: Symphonies Nos. 1-3, Overtures Nos. 1 & 2
℗ 2023 ERDA, under exclusive licence to Parlophone Records Limited
Orchestra:
Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 35: IV. Andante. Allegro
Provided to YouTube by Warner Classics
Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 35: IV. Andante. Allegro · Laurence Equilbey
Louise Farrenc: Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 35: IV. Andante
℗ 2023 ERDA, under exclusive licence to Parlophone Records Limited
Orches
Overture No. 1 in E Minor, Op. 23
Provided to YouTube by Warner Classics
Overture No. 1 in E Minor, Op. 23 · Laurence Equilbey
Louise Farrenc: Symphonies Nos. 1-3, Overtures Nos. 1 & 2
℗ 2023 ERDA, under exclusive licence to Parlophone Records Limited
Orchestra: Insula Orchestra
Condu
Overture No. 2 in E-Flat Major, Op. 24
Provided to YouTube by Warner Classics
Overture No. 2 in E-Flat Major, Op. 24 · Laurence Equilbey
Louise Farrenc: Symphonies Nos. 1-3, Overtures Nos. 1 & 2
℗ 2023 ERDA, under exclusive licence to Parlophone Records Limited
Orchestra: Insula Orchestra
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