Pioneers
Teresa Carreño
The celebrated Venezuelan pianist changed music in her country forever
Teresa Carreño is one of the largest musical icons in the world. Born in Caracas, Venezuela few figures have left as large of an imprint than her, known for her skill as a pianist, opera singer, composer and conductor.
Born in 1853, Carreño had an international education, where she learned from some of the best musicians of her era.
In 1862, Carreño emigrated to New York with her family, something that provided her with incredible opportunities to play alongside some of the most talented musicians in the nation. Her talent was prodigious from the start, having her debut at the iconic Irving Hall when she was 8 years old. A year later, she performed in the White House, for President Abraham Lincoln.
She lived in Europe for some years, where she learned from maestros like Anton Rubinstein and Georges Mathias. She was described as a force fo nature; an artist with a precise and skillful voice and with an aura that shocked audience members and musicians of the era.
It is difficult to express adequately what all musicians felt about this great woman who looked like a queen among pianists - and played like a goddess,” said Henry Wood, an English conductor.
Carreño died in the year 1917, at the age of 63. She left behind a legacy of music that’s revered globally. She has a concert hall in Venezuela named after her as well as a crater in Venus. Not a lot of people can say that.
