Eugenia Osterberger facts for kids
Prudencia Eugenia Juana Osterberger (1852–1932) was a talented Spanish pianist and composer. She was also known as Madame Saunier. Eugenia played a very important role in the cultural life of Galicia, a region in Spain, during the late 1800s. She wrote many pieces for solo piano. She also composed Galician songs that included piano music.
Her Life Story
Early Life and Education
Eugenia Osterberger was born on December 20, 1852. Her birthplace was Santiago de Compostela, a city in Spain. Her father, Jorge Osterberger, was from Alsace and worked with printing pictures. Her mother, Emilia Luard Álvarez, was Galician.
Eugenia received a very good education. This was unusual for women during her time. She studied in France, at a place called Juilly, Seine-et-Marne. She also studied locally in Spain. Her uncle, Justo Luard, helped her learn to play the piano.
Life in Galicia
In October 1877, Eugenia married a French engineer named François Saunier. In 1880, the couple moved to La Coruña, another city in Galicia. There, her husband became the director of the local gas works.
In La Coruña, Eugenia became very involved with Galician culture. She published her musical works in local places. She also published them in big cities like Paris and Madrid. She worked with a famous writer, Emilia Pardo Bazán. Together, they helped create the Royal Galician Academy. Eugenia became a special member of this important group.
Her Music
Eugenia wrote many different kinds of piano music. These included sonatas, nocturnes, and waltzes. Her music often sounded like the works of famous composers. Some of these were Ravel, Schubert, and Mendelssohn.
She also wrote Galician songs. She used poems by writers like Carlos Vaamonde Lores and Manuel Lois Vázquez. Her songs were similar to those by other Galician composers. Some of her well-known songs include "Falas de Nai," "Ausencia. Melodía gallega," and "Adiós a Galicia."
Later Years
In 1907, Eugenia and her husband moved to Nice. This city is in the south of France. Eugenia Osterberger passed away there on February 8, 1932.
See also
In Spanish: Eugenia Osterberger para niños
