Louise Farrenc

Louise Farrenc (1804-1875) was a French composer, virtuoso pianist, and teacher. Born Jean-Louise Dumont on the 31st May 1804 in Paris, she was the daughter of Jacques-Edme Dumont, a successful sculptor, and sister to Auguste Dumont. At first, during the 1820s and 1830s, she composed exclusively for the piano. Several of these pieces drew high praise from critics, including Robert Schumann. In the 1830s, she tried her hand at larger compositions for both chamber ensemble and orchestra.