Clauss-Szarvady, Wilhelmine (1832-1907)

Clauss-Szarvady, Wilhelmine

PIANIST (AUSTRIAN EMPIRE)

BORN 12 Dec 1832, Praha - DIED 2 Sep 1907, Paris
GRAVE LOCATION Paris: Cimetière de Montmartre, 20 Avenue Rachel (division 22, ligne 07, numéro 08, avenue Cordier)

Wilhelmine Clauss was the daughter of a wealthy merchant. She studied piano under Josef Proksch in Prague. She debuted in that city in 1849 when she was sixteen years old. In 1850 she performed at the Gewandhaus in Leipzig for the first time. There she met Franz Liszt, who supported her. She gave concerts in other cities in Germany and travelled to Paris with her mother in 1851. After her mother's sudden deaht she stayed for several months with the singer Caroline Unger near Montpellier. In 1852 she resumed her career and gave concerts in Paris and in London.

In 1855 she gave concerts in Amsterdam and Vienna. In the same year she married the Hungarian publiciest and diplomat Frigyes Szarvady (1822-1882) and she lived with him in Paris. They had a son in 1856.

From Paris she continued her career and gave concerts in many cities. In March 1863 she performed with Clara Schumann and again in 1865 in Bad Kreuznach. In 1867 her son died and she spent some time in the south of France. After her return in Paris she only performed at her own home. After the Franco-Prussian War broke out in 1870 she went to London with her husband. In 1871 they returned to Paris.

She was specalised in performing the works of Scarlatti, Bach and Beethoven. But she also performed work of her contemporaries Berlioz, Liszt and Schumann. Franz Liszt, Carl Reinecke and Joachim Raff all dedicated work to her.

Related persons
• knew Liszt, Franz
• performed with Schumann, Clara
• was pupil of Unger, Caroline

Images
The grave of Wilhelmine Claus-Szarvady at the Cimetière de Montmartre, Paris. Picture by Androom (31 Oct 2022)	The grave of Wilhelmine Claus-Szarvady at the Cimetière de Montmartre, Paris. Picture by Androom (31 Oct 2022)