Adela Verne facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Adela Verne
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1927 publicity photo
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Adela Würm |
| Born | February 27, 1877 Southampton, Hampshire, England |
| Died | February 5, 1952 (aged 74) |
| Instruments | piano |
Adela Verne (born February 27, 1877 – died February 5, 1952) was a famous English pianist. She was born in Southampton, England. Many people thought she was the best woman pianist of her time. She was even compared to the greatest male pianists. Adela traveled all over the world, playing for many audiences. She also wrote a special "Military March" song for Queen Elizabeth, who later became the Queen Mother.
Adela Verne's Life Story
Adela was born into a very musical family. Her original last name was Würm, but it was later changed to Verne. She had nine older brothers and sisters! Three of her sisters were also amazing pianists or composers. Mathilde and Alice also used the name Verne. But her sister Mary went back to Germany and kept the name Würm. Mary was also a very successful pianist and composer.
When Adela was just a little girl, the famous pianist Clara Schumann heard her play. Clara was so impressed that she wanted to take Adela to Germany to teach her. She had done this with Adela's sister Mathilde. However, Adela's parents said no. So, Adela was taught by her sisters Mathilde and Alice. Later, she learned from Marie Schumann, who was Clara Schumann's daughter.
When Adela was only 13, she did something amazing! She played Tchaikovsky's Concerto No.1 in B-flat minor. This was a new and difficult piece. She played it at the Crystal Palace, with Sir August Manns conducting. Tchaikovsky himself heard about this incredible young talent and wanted to meet her.
The next year, she met another famous pianist, Ignacy Jan Paderewski. He was so amazed by her playing that he said she would have a great future. Later, Adela and Paderewski became very close friends. She was like family to him and often visited his home in Switzerland. They worked on many songs together, including pieces by Chopin and most of Paderewski's own works. She even played his Concerto in A minor when she first performed with an orchestra in New York City.
Adela Verne's Musical Journey
Adela Verne was seen as the next big star after the famous pianist Teresa Carreño. People in North and South America, Australia, Europe, and Britain all praised her. They called her the greatest living woman pianist. She was considered as good as the best male artists of her time. In Vienna, a teacher named Theodor Leschetizky heard her play four concertos in one night! He was so impressed that he asked her to play a special concert just for his students. This was a very rare honor.
Adela knew how to play a huge variety of music. She played many pieces from the 1700s and 1800s. But she also played a lot of music from the 1900s that was very modern for its time. She often performed in smaller concerts with other famous musicians. These included the violinist Joseph Joachim and the cellist Alfredo Piatti.
She traveled to Australia with the famous singer Dame Nellie Melba. Adela also performed on stage with other great singers. These included Luisa Tetrazzini, Amelita Galli-Curci, and John McCormack. She also played with famous violinists like Mischa Elman and Eugène Ysaÿe. Adela played regularly at the Proms concerts in London. She was also the first British artist to give a solo concert at the Royal Albert Hall.
Adela Verne was the first to play many pieces in different places:
- She gave the first performance in Australia of Tchaikovsky's B-flat minor Piano Concerto in 1898.
- She also gave the first performance in Australia of Saint-Saëns's G minor Piano Concerto in 1898.
- She was the first to play César Franck's Symphonic Variations in the United Kingdom.
- She was the first to play Brahms's B-flat Concerto at the Prom Concerts. She was also the first woman to play this concerto in the UK.
- She gave the first television performance of Mozart's Concerto for 2 Pianos. She played this with her son, John Vallier, who was also a famous concert pianist.
In early 1952, the BBC asked her to broadcast a special show. It featured music by Paderewski. Her last public performance was at the special Jubilee Concerts. These concerts celebrated the Wigmore Hall. Adela was getting ready for her first concert at London's new Royal Festival Hall. But she sadly passed away on February 5, 1952, at the age of 74.
See also
- Alice Verne-Bredt
