A Cyclopaedia of Female Biography/Pleyel, Marie
PLEYEL, MARIE,
Has been called "the queen of female pianists." She is a native of Paris, and was married at an early age to M. Camille Pleyel, of the firm of Pleyel and Co., the celebrated piano-forte makers. Endowed with rare natural gifts, the mind of this lady has been also greatly enriched by assiduous cultivation; she is known to possess an extensive knowledge of languages and general literature, while in the peculiar branch of art to which she has devoted herself she stands unrivalled. Her mechanical skill is something truly wonderful, and the varied expression which she gives to the musical notes drawn forth from her instrument are such as no previous performer had ever before elicited. Listz eulogistically said of her that "she was not only great among female pianists, but great amongst the greatest artistes of the world." Madame Pleyel first appeared before the musical public of London in 1846; she has since then several times repeated her visits, ever with an increase of popular estimation. Her latest appearance here was in the winter of 1854, at a series of concerts got up by M. Jullien. The established home of this accomplished lady has been for many years in the environs of Brussels. Her domestic life is understood to have been far from happy. She has with her an only child, a little girl, who, it is said, bids fair to become as great a musician as her mother.