Madame Athanase David
Encyclopedia
Madame Athanase David was a Canadian arts administrator and arts patron.
Born Antonia Nantel in Saint-Jérôme, Quebec
, she studied the piano
in Montreal before entering the Conservatoire de Paris
where she studied opera
and was a piano student of Antoine-Émile Marmontel. She had initially intended to pursue a singing career, but abandoned these plans after her marriage to Louis-Athanase David, the Provincial Secretary of Quebec. Her husband later became a member of the Canadian Senate
and their son, Paul David
, was also a senator and prominent Canadian cardiologist.
David became heavily involved in supporting the arts within the city of Montreal
. She played an instrumental role in establishing the Montreal Orchestra in 1930 and served on that ensemble's executive committee. She left that committee in 1934, finding the orchestra's hiring practices to be discriminatory against French-speakers. She went on to play an important part in establishing the Montreal Symphony Orchestra
in 1934 with the help of her husband. In 1936 she and Wilfrid Pelletier
established the Montreal Festivals
, of which she later served as President from 1939-1952.
Born Antonia Nantel in Saint-Jérôme, Quebec
Saint-Jérôme, Quebec
Saint-Jérôme is a town in Quebec, Canada, near Mirabel, about northwest of Montreal along Autoroute des Laurentides. The town is a gateway to the Laurentian Mountains and its resorts....
, she studied the piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
in Montreal before entering the Conservatoire de Paris
Conservatoire de Paris
The Conservatoire de Paris is a college of music and dance founded in 1795, now situated in the avenue Jean Jaurès in the 19th arrondissement of Paris, France...
where she studied opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
and was a piano student of Antoine-Émile Marmontel. She had initially intended to pursue a singing career, but abandoned these plans after her marriage to Louis-Athanase David, the Provincial Secretary of Quebec. Her husband later became a member of the Canadian Senate
Canadian Senate
The Senate of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the House of Commons, and the monarch . The Senate consists of 105 members appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister...
and their son, Paul David
Paul David
Paul David, was a Canadian cardiologist, founder of the Montreal Heart Institute, and Senator.Born in Montreal, Quebec, the son of Louis-Athanase David and Antonia Nantel, he received his Bachelor's degree from the University of Paris in 1939 and his MD from the Université de Montréal in 1944...
, was also a senator and prominent Canadian cardiologist.
David became heavily involved in supporting the arts within the city of Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
. She played an instrumental role in establishing the Montreal Orchestra in 1930 and served on that ensemble's executive committee. She left that committee in 1934, finding the orchestra's hiring practices to be discriminatory against French-speakers. She went on to play an important part in establishing the Montreal Symphony Orchestra
Montreal Symphony Orchestra
Orchestre symphonique de Montréal is a symphony orchestra based in Montréal, Québec, Canada, with Montréal's Place des Arts as its home.-History:...
in 1934 with the help of her husband. In 1936 she and Wilfrid Pelletier
Wilfrid Pelletier
Joseph Louis Wilfrid Pelletier , CC was a Canadian conductor, pianist, composer, and arts administrator. He was instrumental in establishing the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, serving as the orchestra's first artistic director and conductor from 1935-1941...
established the Montreal Festivals
Montreal Festivals
The Montreal Festivals was an arts festival held annually in Montreal, Canada from 1936-1965. The festival was originally dedicated to the performance of classical music, presenting concerts of symphonic works, operas, oratorios, chamber music, and recitals...
, of which she later served as President from 1939-1952.
Source
- Madame Athanase David at The Canadian EncyclopediaThe Canadian EncyclopediaThe Canadian Encyclopedia is a source of information on Canada. It is available online, at no cost. The Canadian Encyclopedia is available in both English and French and includes some 14,000 articles in each language on a wide variety of subjects including history, popular culture, events, people,...