Marcelle Meyer facts for kids
Marcelle Meyer (born May 22, 1897 – died November 17, 1958) was a super talented French pianist. She was especially known for playing music by a famous group of composers called Les Six. They loved her playing so much that she became their favorite pianist!
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Her Life and Music
Marcelle Meyer was born in Lille, France, on May 22, 1897. She started learning piano at just five years old from her sister, Germaine.
Early Training
When she was 14, Marcelle joined the Conservatoire de Paris in 1911. This was a very famous music school! She studied with amazing teachers like Alfred Cortot and Marguerite Long. By the time she was 16, she won the "Premier Prix," which means she was one of the best students.
Marcelle also learned from Ricardo Viñes. He taught her how to play music by Maurice Ravel and other Spanish composers.
Working with Famous Composers
Marcelle Meyer met the famous composer Claude Debussy in 1917. She even got coaching from him on how to play his "Preludes." That same year, she played for the first time in public a piece called "Parade" by Erik Satie. Satie loved her playing so much that she became his favorite pianist too!
She also worked closely with Francis Poulenc. She played his "Sonata for piano four hands" for the very first time with him. This means they played together on one piano! She also premiered many of his other works and recorded music with him.
In the early 1920s, Marcelle played for other important composers like Darius Milhaud and Igor Stravinsky.
Becoming Famous
Marcelle Meyer became very famous for her amazing piano skills. She performed concerts in England, the Netherlands, and Germany. She also played many new pieces of music for the first time. These included works by composers like Arthur Honegger, Roland-Manuel, and Igor Markevitch.
The Group Les Six
In 1922, a painter named Jacques-Émile Blanche painted a picture of Marcelle Meyer. In the painting, she was with Jean Cocteau and the group known as Les Six. This was a group of six young French composers:
Marcelle was their favorite pianist and helped them share their new music with the world.
Her Family Life
Marcelle Meyer was married twice. Her first husband was the actor Pierre Bertin. They had a daughter named Marie Bertin. Later, she married Carlo Di Vieto, who was a lawyer from Italy. With him, she had a second daughter named Anne-Marie Di Vieto.
Her Final Days
Marcelle Meyer passed away on November 17, 1958, in Paris. She had a heart attack while playing the piano at her sister's house.
See also
In Spanish: Marcelle Meyer para niños
