Two sisters, two destinies. Although they were both pianists, it is Marguerite Long, born in 1874 in Nîmes, who we remember today. The Nîmes academy is taking advantage of the 150th anniversary of his birth to pay tribute to him, as well as to his sister Claire. “She’s the eldest explains Sabine Terulon-Lardic, musicologist researcher at Montpellier-3 University and member of the Nîmes Academy. She was recruited in 1884, at the national music school of Nîmes, which had recently opened and which launched the first female class for young girl pianists. She resigned in 1898, when she married.” Among his students, his sister, Marguerite who will have a career as an international soloist. Received at the Paris Conservatory, the pianist became a specialist in French music. She rubbed shoulders with the composers of the time, Fauré, Debussy and Ravel who dedicated his Concerto in G to her. “She feels like she is the ambassador of this music, because when she is old, she will record everything she received from these composers in three books..” Another legacy, the Long-Thibaut piano and violin competition that she created in 1943 with the violinist Jacques Thibaud. Today it honors young artists from around the world.
Women in the spotlight and a concert
On the occasion of this tribute, the historian Francine Cabane, vice-president of the Academy of Nîmes, the art historian Hélène Deronne and the musicologist Sabine Teulon-Lardic will also look back on the destiny of other women artists , unfairly recognized. The afternoon will end at 7 p.m. with a concert by pianist Célia Oneto-Bensaïd who will perform the works of musicians dear to Marguerite Long. Several documents belonging to him and from the Departmental Archives of Gard will also be exhibited at the lower level of Carré d’art until November 23.
