Maria Theresia von Paradis

Maria Theresia Paradis, despite their bourgeois origins often called Paradis ( born May 15, 1759 in Vienna, † February 1, 1824 in Vienna ) was an Austrian pianist, singer, composer and music teacher. She was blind since early childhood. In the Viennese musical life she was known more prominently and with many important representatives of the Viennese classics Joseph Haydn and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. On a tour of Europe from 1783 to 1786 they played in front of numerous high- profile celebrities, including the French king Louis XVI pair. and Marie Antoinette, and the English King George III. and his wife Charlotte.

Life

Maria Theresia Paradis was one of the daughters of the Viennese court officials Joseph Anton Paradis and his wife Maria Rosalia. She had a sister, Maria Theresa Clotildis (June 3, 1758 - March 17, 1759 ), twin sisters ( Josepha and Elizabeth) and a few other sisters and brothers. Her grandfather Claudius was valet and then " Counts Esterházy'scher Regent ," her uncle Leopold was a dancer who moved in 1753 to Paris, where he opened a dance school. When Maria Theresia Paradis was about three years old, she became blind. She received music lessons with Leopold Koželuh (piano), Vincenzo Righini, Abbé Georg Joseph Vogler (vocals) and Antonio Salieri (harmony ) that counted for a longer time to Friends of the family.

Contrary to popular, going back to Franz Gräffer allegations was " the paradise " no godfather child of Empress Maria Theresa, however, has received financial support, a so-called grace board, from the personal exchange of the Empress, which was deleted by Joseph II later. It was designed in 1775 as a pianist in Vienna very prominent and gave numerous concerts.

In Vienna, as well as on their big European tour brought them in addition to many works of their main teacher Koželuh also piano concertos by Joseph Haydn ( demonstrably Concerto in G major Hob XVIII: 4) and less often by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart heard. In a letter dated February 16, 1785, Leopold Mozart wrote to his daughter Maria Anna of a new concerto, which had " made ​​for Paradis to Paris ," his son. This is according to recent research, probably around 456 KV Salieri dedicated his 1773 arisen organ concert, which they most likely also aufführte public. She played demonstrably on the organ of St. Augustine's Church in Vienna.

After a true martyrdom by a variety of modern treatments then that should cure her blindness, she was recognized at the Viennese court physicians as incurable. After that, she was a few months the patient is located in Vienna 's famous, but in fine Deten of colleagues physician Franz Anton Mesmer, after which her ​​condition improved markedly from time to time. After the parents of musician, she had withdrawn in June 1777, Mesmer's treatment, however, they fell back into total blindness. How is this blindness was or what triggered this, is so far only suspected.

European tour

A great tour led the pianist from 1783 to 1786, among other things to Hamburg, where she met Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, Berlin, Switzerland, France, England, in the Austrian Netherlands and Bohemia. She was accompanied by her mother Rosalia Maria and Sigmund Falgara (1752-1790, musicians, at least until February 1784) and their librettists, violinist and later life companions Johann Riedinger (probably in autumn 1785 ), who because of them invented a blind musical notation. Almost all descriptions concert this time are similar for:

Through this concert tour Maria Theresia Paradis was known about the borders of Austria and impressed and influenced especially Valentin Haiiy and Johann Wilhelm Klein, the founder of the first institutions for the blind in Paris and Vienna. They used one, developed by Wolfgang von Kempelen, her former tutor Braille typewriter for their correspondence. Thus was laid the foundation for today's Braille of Louis Braille. Your travel stations are also to its ordinary book, which led them on the journey with them, prove - and thereby also a number of personalities who have signed it. Although traveled many musicians, composers in this period by Europe, but usually only to such as by their employer for training to Italy and go back. Maria Theresia Paradis ' journey is - similar to that of Mozart as child prodigies trip of 1763 - something extraordinary. Another blind contemporary of Maria Theresia Paradis, Marianne Kirchgeßner was almost time her whole life on tour. A special challenge was the logistics, the part still poorly developed road system and especially the partly bad accommodations at that time dar.

Important Travel stations

Comments

Work as a music teacher

During their journey, and even before that in Vienna Maria Theresia Paradis had begun to write piano music and songs. Major funding for their advancement were inside their pen pal Sophie von La Roche and Luise Eleonore of Saxe- Meiningen, the refunded their printing costs for their Twelve Songs of enthusiasm out. Upon her return to Maria Theresia Paradis in Vienna devoted increasingly to composition. Later planned concert tours to Italy and Russia did not come into existence. In 1808 she founded her apartment for " scraping the trunk " in the Roth Tower Road CN. 482 in Vienna, an institute for music education, where she taught blind and sighted girls and young women in piano, voice and music theory. This was made possible by a custom-made product for them touch type case could be made ​​tangible with the music:

By " school" here is not the place, but their own system meant like Leopold Mozart's Treatise on the Fundamental Violin School (1756 ), which is still used as a standard work in violin lessons. Your school or her music institute was also a model for other institutions of this kind, such as for the blind pianist and composer Josef Proksch.

Salonnière

Several times a year Maria Theresia Paradis was successful and popular concerts, balls and festivities perform in their home, the local as well as by traveling -known musicians provided a platform and so much appreciation in the public had that the local newspapers regularly reported it. With these concerts, she was on the amount of time the concert programs have survived. Your musical plays and operas, which she wrote in the 1790s and was first performed at the Theater am Kärntnertor found favor.

Politically, Maria Theresia Paradis saw on the side of the monarchy. In Paris she met the royal family and played with Marie Antoinette at Versailles in person, which was excellent pianist himself and composed. Maria Theresia Paradis ' patriotism is reflected in its composition to the ladies who pluck instead of gold now a canvas for wounded warriors (1794 ) from. It held enlightened views and had friendly relations with other Salonnièren Vienna like Karoline Pichler and writer Gabriele von Baumberg. 1797 Maria Theresia Paradis traveled to Prague one last time, there to pursue the premiere of her magic opera Rinaldo and Alcina at the Estates Theatre, but were unsuccessful. Physically and mentally exhausted trying Maria Theresia Paradis, to recover in the near Carlsbad and -actuated recovery walks in the surrounding area.

Retirement

Well in October 1797, she returned to Vienna, brought her back into the swing music room and there was also, inter alia, Joseph Haydn welcome as a guest of the piano his great work The Creation rehearsed with Ignaz Franz von Mosel, and with it:

A " phthisis and added trodden nervous fever " was said to be Maria Theresia Paradis ' cause of death. More debt than assets bequeathed Johann Riedinger - the arms Institute in Vienna and some friends and relatives remained some money. Riedinger, who was himself less and less successful was thus forced to sell Maria Theresa's estate. Your Wings by Joseph Brodmann considered lost. The great musician was buried at the St. Marx Cemetery, the grave is lost.

Works (selection)

Many of the numerous works of Maria Theresia Paradis have been lost. In their stage works is particularly evident in the dramatic scenes of the influence of her teacher Salieri, otherwise there is the typical " Viennese Singspielton " before. Your piano works are strongly influenced by the style of their teacher Koželuh.

• Stage Works Ariadne and Bacchus (1791 )
• The school candidate (1792 )
• Rinaldo and Alcina (1797 )

• Song works Funeral Cantata on the Death of Leopold II (1792 )
• German Monument of Louis the unfortunates (1793)
• Cantata on the convalescence of my father
• Twelve Songs

• Instrumental works 2 Piano Concertos in G minor and C major
• 12 Piano Sonatas (1792 )
• Piano Trio ( 1800)
• 2 Fantasies for Piano in G major (1807 ) and C major (1811 )
• Sicilienne for Violin and Piano ( regarded as her most popular work, the authorship is disputed )

Reception

The Paradisgasse in the 19th district of Vienna Dobling was named after her.

In recognition of her work which was founded in Vienna in 1999, " Paradis Trio" by the musicians Ursula Bosch, Ildikó Tarman and Karin Hopferwieser. The From and a terrible accent in the name of this trio are mistaken curiosities, as Paradis was not noble, her grandfather Claude Paradis came from Savoy and her name is thus stressed on the last syllable.

Alissa Walser 2010 published novel In the beginning was the night music revolves around the healing Franz Anton Mesmer's efforts to Maria Theresia Paradis.

In the magazine, the Wien Museum ( Biographical collections ) in Vienna is a wax bust with human hair, glass eyes and a berüschten garment that represents According to the original plaque in the pedestal Maria Theresia Paradis. This bust is not seen in the reference collection because it is need of restoration and the original glass cover is missing. This bust was originally located in a Viennese school for the blind, possibly as a memorandum and of worship of their personality as ( blind ) Music teacher and role model. This bust is the only life-size, preserved and previously known wax bust of an artist from that time.