Blanche Honegger Moyse
Encyclopedia
Blanche Honegger Moyse was a conductor living in Brattleboro, Vermont
. She was particularly admired for her devotion to the choral works of Johann Sebastian Bach
and her ability to draw deeply moving performances from both amateur and professional musicians. Soprano Arleen Auger
has said of her, "I’ve sung Bach all over the world, often with people who are considered the best, and in my opinion no one is performing Bach any better than Blanche Moyse is doing it in Brattleboro." She had been pointed out by the writer Benjamin Ivry
as perhaps having been "classical music's best kept secret." Wall Street Journal critic Greg Sandow said of her performance of Bach's St. John Passion
at the age of 89: "Sometimes you hear a concert that sticks with you. For months you think about it, keeping it alive in your mind, unable to banish it merely to memory."
Moyse was born in Geneva
, Switzerland
, where she began the study of violin at the age of eight. She went on to study with Adolf Busch
, and made her debut at the age of 16, when she played the Beethoven violin concerto with l'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande. She married the pianist and flutist Louis Moyse
and, with Moyse's father, flutist Marcel Moyse
, formed the award-winning Moyse Trio.
In 1949, the Moyses moved to Marlboro, Vermont
at the invitation of Busch and Rudolf Serkin
, and helped found the Marlboro Music Festival. Moyse also chaired the music department at Marlboro College
for the next 25 years, and founded the Brattleboro Music Center in 1952. Her violin career ended in 1966 with an injury to her bow arm, but she went on to become a much admired conductor of the choral works of Bach. She made her Carnegie Hall debut at the age of 78, conducting the Blanche Moyse Chorale and the Orchestra of St. Luke's
in a production of Bach's Christmas Oratorio
, and she continued to conduct Bach's major choral works—the Mass in B Minor, the St Matthew Passion and the St John Passion—at annual concerts of the New England Bach Festival well into her 90's. In 2000 Blanche Moyse was awarded the Alfred Nash Patterson Lifetime Achievement Award by Choral Arts New England in recognition of her exceptional contributions to choruses and the appreciation of choral music in New England.
Moyse died at her home in Brattleboro, Vermont, on February 10, 2011 at the age of 101.
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
. She was particularly admired for her devotion to the choral works of Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach was a German composer, organist, harpsichordist, violist, and violinist whose sacred and secular works for choir, orchestra, and solo instruments drew together the strands of the Baroque period and brought it to its ultimate maturity...
and her ability to draw deeply moving performances from both amateur and professional musicians. Soprano Arleen Auger
Arleen Auger
Joyce Arleen Auger was an American soprano singer, admired for her coloratura voice and interpretations of works by Bach, Handel, Haydn, Monteverdi, Gluck, and Mozart.-Biography:...
has said of her, "I’ve sung Bach all over the world, often with people who are considered the best, and in my opinion no one is performing Bach any better than Blanche Moyse is doing it in Brattleboro." She had been pointed out by the writer Benjamin Ivry
Benjamin Ivry
Benjamin Ivry is an American writer on the arts, broadcaster and translator.Ivry is author of biographies of Francis Poulenc, Arthur Rimbaud, and Maurice Ravel, as well as a poetry collection, Paradise for the Portuguese Queen...
as perhaps having been "classical music's best kept secret." Wall Street Journal critic Greg Sandow said of her performance of Bach's St. John Passion
St. John Passion
Several composers have written works known by the title St John Passion, which denotes a passion based on the Gospel of John...
at the age of 89: "Sometimes you hear a concert that sticks with you. For months you think about it, keeping it alive in your mind, unable to banish it merely to memory."
Moyse was born in Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, where she began the study of violin at the age of eight. She went on to study with Adolf Busch
Adolf Busch
Adolf Georg Wilhelm Busch was a German-born violinist and composer.Busch was born in Siegen in Westphalia. He studied at the Cologne Conservatory with Willy Hess and Bram Eldering...
, and made her debut at the age of 16, when she played the Beethoven violin concerto with l'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande. She married the pianist and flutist Louis Moyse
Louis Moyse
Louis Moyse was a famous French flute player and composer. He was the son of influential French flutist Marcel Moyse. He was a co-founder of the Vermont Marlboro Music Festival and was a teacher to top flutists all over the world. He died of heart failure at age 94.Louis Moyse was born in...
and, with Moyse's father, flutist Marcel Moyse
Marcel Moyse
Marcel Moyse was a famous French flutist. Many works were composed for Moyse including the 1934 Flute Concerto by Jacques Ibert...
, formed the award-winning Moyse Trio.
In 1949, the Moyses moved to Marlboro, Vermont
Marlboro, Vermont
Marlboro is a town in Windham County, Vermont, United States. The population was 978 at the 2000 census. The town is home to both the Southern Vermont Natural History Museum and Marlboro College, which each summer hosts the Marlboro Music School and Festival....
at the invitation of Busch and Rudolf Serkin
Rudolf Serkin
Rudolf Serkin , was a Bohemian-born pianist.-Life and early career:Serkin was born in Eger, Bohemia, Austro-Hungarian Empire to a Russian-Jewish family....
, and helped found the Marlboro Music Festival. Moyse also chaired the music department at Marlboro College
Marlboro College
Marlboro College is a small, coeducational, alternative liberal-arts college in Marlboro, Vermont, USA.-History:Marlboro College was founded in 1946 by Walter Hendricks for returning World War II veterans on Potash Hill in Marlboro, Vermont. The school's operation was initially financed using money...
for the next 25 years, and founded the Brattleboro Music Center in 1952. Her violin career ended in 1966 with an injury to her bow arm, but she went on to become a much admired conductor of the choral works of Bach. She made her Carnegie Hall debut at the age of 78, conducting the Blanche Moyse Chorale and the Orchestra of St. Luke's
Orchestra of St. Luke's
The Orchestra of St. Luke's is an American chamber orchestra based in New York City.It was founded in the summer of 1979 at the Caramoor International Music Festival in Katonah, New York....
in a production of Bach's Christmas Oratorio
Christmas Oratorio
The Christmas Oratorio BWV 248, is an oratorio by Johann Sebastian Bach intended for performance in church during the Christmas season. It was written for the Christmas season of 1734 incorporating music from earlier compositions, including three secular cantatas written during 1733 and 1734 and a...
, and she continued to conduct Bach's major choral works—the Mass in B Minor, the St Matthew Passion and the St John Passion—at annual concerts of the New England Bach Festival well into her 90's. In 2000 Blanche Moyse was awarded the Alfred Nash Patterson Lifetime Achievement Award by Choral Arts New England in recognition of her exceptional contributions to choruses and the appreciation of choral music in New England.
Moyse died at her home in Brattleboro, Vermont, on February 10, 2011 at the age of 101.