Francis Planté facts for kids
Francis Planté (born March 2, 1839 – died December 19, 1934) was a famous French pianist. He is well-known as one of the very first musicians to ever make sound recordings. This means we can still hear him play today!
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A Talented Young Pianist
Francis Planté was born in Orthez, France. He started playing piano at a very young age. His teacher was Antoine Marmontel. Planté began his music career in Paris when he was just seven years old.
Meeting Music Legends
In Paris, Francis met many other musicians. These friendships greatly helped his career. He played piano with Franz Liszt. They performed Liszt's symphonic poems together. Planté also befriended famous composers like Hector Berlioz, Gioachino Rossini, and Charles Gounod.
A Link to the Past
It is known that Planté himself heard Frédéric Chopin play the piano. Because of this, Planté's recordings are very special. They offer a rare connection to how piano music was played long ago. It's like a musical time capsule!
Touring and Retirement
After leaving Paris, Planté toured across Europe. He became famous for his beautiful piano tone. People also loved his emotional and skillful performances.
In 1908, his wife passed away. After this, Planté stopped performing on stage. However, he still played for charity events. He also gave concerts to help those hurt in the First World War. Many students learned from him, including Alexander Brailowsky. Planté died in Saint-Avit.
Planté's Unique Playing Style
Francis Planté's piano style was quite different from how musicians play today. His recordings show a more relaxed performance. He often put a stronger accent on each beat. The notes he played were also more clearly pronounced.
Featured in "The Art of Piano"
Planté is shown in a 1999 DVD called The Art of Piano. You can see a short clip of him playing Chopin's Étude in C, Op. 10 No. 7. This film clip is another amazing way to see his historic playing.
Notable Recordings
Here are some of the pieces Francis Planté recorded:
