Suzanne Chaigneau
Encyclopedia
Suzanne Chaigneau, born Chailly-en-Bière
, (Seine-et-Marne) 14 June 1875, died Paris 13 April 1946, was a French violinist and chamber musician.
She spent her childhood between Barbizon
and Paris, receiving her musical education from her mother and family friends including Charles Lamoureux
and Camille Chevillard
. With her sisters she formed a piano trio
which gave its first concert in Paris on 25 February 1895.
She was the daughter of painter Ferdinand Chaigneau and Louise Deger, twin sister of the cellist Marguerite and sister of Thérèse, who played piano in the Trio Chaigneau. In 1910 she married the son of Joseph Joachim
, Herman Joachim, an officer in the German army, and was the mother of the singer Irène Joachim
. The Chaigneau home welcomed many artistic visitors and was also considered close to the Dreyfusard cause, with Georges Picquart
among other visitors to the home.
The Trio Chaigneau played in London and Edinburgh and, with assistance from Joachim
, undertook a tour of Germany in 1905. Their repertoire was both the Austro-German classics – Beethoven, Brahms, Mozart – and modern French composers. Apart from a few appearances in 1920, the Trio ended at the start of the First World War.
Suzanne Chaigneau was stranded in Berlin during the war, and her husband died of tuberculosis in 1917. However she was able to continue with musical activity which brought her into contact with Wanda Landowska
and Carl Flesch
. Although she was able to send her daughter sent back to France in 1918, she herself was only able to return around 1920. Back in Paris she taught the violin, and founded the Institut moderne du violin with Lucien Capet
in 1924. She also became a music correspondent for the Berliner Tageblatt
, signing her articles as 'S Francoeur'.
In 1926 and 1927 Chaigneau spent time in Chicago with the Yanker family to teach her violin method. Her books on violin playing included L’Art d’etudier, as well as a translation of the Journal Intime of Novalis.
Chailly-en-Bière
Chailly-en-Bière is a commune in the Seine-et-Marne department in the Île-de-France region in north-central France.-External links:* * *...
, (Seine-et-Marne) 14 June 1875, died Paris 13 April 1946, was a French violinist and chamber musician.
She spent her childhood between Barbizon
Barbizon
Barbizon is a commune in the Seine-et-Marne department in north-central France. It is located near the Fontainebleau Forest.-Art history:The Barbizon school of painters is named after the village; Théodore Rousseau and Jean-François Millet, leaders of the school, made their homes and died in the...
and Paris, receiving her musical education from her mother and family friends including Charles Lamoureux
Charles Lamoureux
Charles Lamoureux was a French conductor and violinist.He was born in Bordeaux, where his father owned a café. He studied the violin with Narcisse Girard at the Paris Conservatoire, taking a premier prix in 1854. He was subsequently engaged as a violinist at the Opéra and later joined the Société...
and Camille Chevillard
Camille Chevillard
Camille Chevillard was a French composer and conductor.He was born in Paris, France. He led the Lamoureux Orchestra in the premieres of Debussy's Nocturnes and La mer . He was the son-in-law of conductor Charles Lamoureux...
. With her sisters she formed a piano trio
Piano trio
A piano trio is a group of piano and two other instruments, usually a violin and a cello, or a piece of music written for such a group. It is one of the most common forms found in classical chamber music...
which gave its first concert in Paris on 25 February 1895.
She was the daughter of painter Ferdinand Chaigneau and Louise Deger, twin sister of the cellist Marguerite and sister of Thérèse, who played piano in the Trio Chaigneau. In 1910 she married the son of Joseph Joachim
Joseph Joachim
Joseph Joachim was a Hungarian violinist, conductor, composer and teacher. A close collaborator of Johannes Brahms, he is widely regarded as one of the most significant violinists of the 19th century.-Origins:...
, Herman Joachim, an officer in the German army, and was the mother of the singer Irène Joachim
Irène Joachim
Irène Joachim, born 13 March 1913 in Paris, died 20 April 2001, also in Paris, was a French soprano, and later a vocal teacher.-Early life:Daughter of Herman Joachim and Suzanne Chaigneau, and grand-daughter of the violinist Joseph Joachim, she learnt violin and piano as a child...
. The Chaigneau home welcomed many artistic visitors and was also considered close to the Dreyfusard cause, with Georges Picquart
Georges Picquart
Marie Georges Picquart , was a French army officer and Minister of War. He is best known for his role in the Dreyfus Affair.-Early career:...
among other visitors to the home.
The Trio Chaigneau played in London and Edinburgh and, with assistance from Joachim
Joseph Joachim
Joseph Joachim was a Hungarian violinist, conductor, composer and teacher. A close collaborator of Johannes Brahms, he is widely regarded as one of the most significant violinists of the 19th century.-Origins:...
, undertook a tour of Germany in 1905. Their repertoire was both the Austro-German classics – Beethoven, Brahms, Mozart – and modern French composers. Apart from a few appearances in 1920, the Trio ended at the start of the First World War.
Suzanne Chaigneau was stranded in Berlin during the war, and her husband died of tuberculosis in 1917. However she was able to continue with musical activity which brought her into contact with Wanda Landowska
Wanda Landowska
Wanda Landowska was a Polish harpsichordist whose performances, teaching, recordings and writings played a large role in reviving the popularity of the harpsichord in the early 20th century...
and Carl Flesch
Carl Flesch
Carl Flesch was a violinist and teacher.Carl Flesch was born in Moson in Hungary in 1873. He began playing the violin at seven years of age. At 10, he was taken to Vienna, and began to study with Jakob Grün. At 17, he left for Paris, and joined the Paris Conservatoire...
. Although she was able to send her daughter sent back to France in 1918, she herself was only able to return around 1920. Back in Paris she taught the violin, and founded the Institut moderne du violin with Lucien Capet
Lucien Capet
Lucien Louis Capet was a French violinist, pedagogue and composer.-Career:Capet came from the Paris proletariat. By the age of fifteen, he had to maintain himself by playing in bistros and cafes...
in 1924. She also became a music correspondent for the Berliner Tageblatt
Berliner Tageblatt
The Berliner Tageblatt or BT was a German language newspaper published in Berlin from 1872-1939. Along with the Frankfurter Zeitung, it became one of the most important liberal German newspapers of its time.-History:...
, signing her articles as 'S Francoeur'.
In 1926 and 1927 Chaigneau spent time in Chicago with the Yanker family to teach her violin method. Her books on violin playing included L’Art d’etudier, as well as a translation of the Journal Intime of Novalis.