Ferrari, Gabrielle (1851–1921)
Ferrari, Gabrielle (1851–1921)
French concert pianist and composer of five operas. Born Gabriella Colombari de Montègre in Paris, France, on September 14(?), 1851; died in Paris on July 4, 1921; married Francesco Ferrari, an Italian correspondent for Le Figaro.
Born in France in September of 1851, Gabrielle Ferrari first studied at conservatories in Naples and Milan before returning to her native Paris following her marriage to Francesco Ferrari, an Italian correspondent for Le Figaro. While in Paris, she studied with Théodore Dubois and H. Ketten, and François Leborne and Charles Gounod both championed her work. Ferrari was a concert artist, like many composers, and well known as a pianist. She concentrated on opera, completing five large works. Her first success was Le dernier amour in 1895 followed by Le Cobzar which created a great deal of debate among pro- and anti-feminists of the period. Her work used folk idioms and melodies.
John Haag , Athens, Georgia