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Italian violinist and composer Teresa Milanollo made her stage debut at the tender age of nine. During the following year, she performed throughout Europe—in France, the Netherlands, Belgium, and more, sometimes performing up to forty concerts a month. Teresa also began teaching her younger sister, Maria, and several years later the two began an extensive concert tour, earning the nicknames Mademoiselle Adagio (Teresa) and Mademoiselle Staccato (Maria) for their contrasting yet equally captivating playing styles. Rivalling the concert successes of Paganini, Ernst, and Liszt, the sisters performed to full houses throughout Europe.
In 1848, Maria’s sudden death from tuberculosis sent Teresa into an extended period of mourning and a hiatus from public performance. She returned to the stage in 1852 and continued performing until she married Théodore Parmentier in 1857. Her Impromptu Op. 8 for Violin and Piano is one of several works for solo violin and piano. Other compositions include opera transcriptions and an arrangement of Ave Maria for men’s chorus. Teresa earned praise from noteworthy musicians throughout her career, including Joachim and Berlioz, and was one of the first women violinists to be acknowledged as a real artist. — Sallynee Amawat |
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