Music's Modern Muse: A Life of Winnaretta Singer, Princesse de Polignac (Eastman Studies in Music) (Eastman Studies in Music)

The American-born Winnaretta Singer (1865-1943) was a millionaire at the age of eighteen, due to her inheriting a substantial part of the Singer Sewing Machine fortune. Her 1893 marriage to Prince Edmond de Polignac, an amateur composer, brought her into contact with the most elite strata of French society. After Edmond's death in 1901, she used her fortune to benefit the arts, science, and letters. Her most significant contribution was in the musical domain: in addition to subsidizing individual artists (Boulanger, Haskil, Rubinstein, Horowitz) and organizations (the Ballets Russes, l'Op?ra de Paris, l'Orchestre Symphonique de Paris), she made a lifelong project of commissioning new musical works from composers, many of them unknown and struggling, to be performed in her Paris salon. The list of works created as a result is long and extraordinary: Stravinsky's Renard, Satie's Socrate, Falla's El Retablo de Maese Pedro, and Poulenc's Two-Piano and Organ Concertos are among the best-known titles. In addition, her salon was a gathering place for luminaries of French culture such as Proust, Cocteau, Monet, Diaghilev, and Colette. Many of Proust's memorable evocations of salon culture were born during his attendance at concerts in the Polignac music room. Sylvia Kahan brings to life this eccentric and extravagant lover of the arts, whose influence on the 20th Century world of music and literature remains incalculable. The American-born Winnaretta Singer (1865-1943) Was A Millionaire At The Age Of Eighteen, Due To Her Inheriting A Substantial Part Of The Singer Sewing Machine Fortune. Living In Paris, She Quickly Became Active In Musical Life There, Holding The Premier Avant-garde Musical Salon In Her Home From 1888 To 1939. Her 1893 Marriage To Prince Edmond De Polignac, An Amateur Composer, Brought Her Into Contact With The Most Elite Strata Of French Society.. After Edmond's Death In 1901, Singer-polignac Used Her Fortune To Benefit The Arts, Sciences, And Letters. Singer-polignac's Most Significant Contribution Was In The Musical Domain: In Addition To Subsidizing Individual Artists (boulanger, Haskil, Rubinstein, Horowitz) And Organizations (the Ballets Russes, L'opera De Paris, L'orchestre Symphonique De Paris), She Made A Lifelong Project Of Commissioning New Musical Works From Composers, Many Of Them Unknown And Struggling, To Be Performed In Her Salon. The List Of Works Created As A Result Is Long And Extraordinary, And Includes Works By Stravinsky, Satie, Falla, And Poulenc. In Addition, Her Salon Was A Gathering Place For Luminaries Of French Culture, Among Them Proust, Cocteau, Diaghilev, And Colette. Many Of Proust's Memorable Evocations Of Salon Culture Were Born During His Attendance At Concerts In The Polignac Music Room.. In Addition To Playing Piano And Organ, Singer-polignac Enjoyed Some Success As A Painter: A Number Of Her Canvases Were Accepted For Annual Exhibitions Of The Academie Des Beaux-arts. She Supported The Work Of Several Women Composers, Including Ethel Smyth And Adela Maddison, Using Her Influence To Have Their Operas Mounted In Major European Theaters. After Her Death Her Legacy Of Enlightened Generosity Was Carried On Through The Work Of The Fondation Singer-polignac.--book Jacket. Prelude -- An International Child -- Life With Mother -- A Woman Of The World -- The Sewing Machine And The Lyre -- Marriage And Music -- La Belle époque -- Renovations -- Modern Times -- The Astonishing Years -- Shelter From The Storm -- The Magic Of Everyday Things -- Cottages Of The Elite, Palaces Of The People -- A Pride Of Protégés -- Mademoiselle -- All Music Is Modern -- The Beautiful Kingdom Of Sounds -- Postlude. Sylvia Kahan. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [509]-525) And Index. A biography of Winnaretta Singer-Polignac, heiress to the Singer Sewing Machine fortune, who befriended and subsidized some of the most important musical and literary artists of the 20th Century, including Stravinsky, Proust, Ravel, Cocteau, and Colette.The American-born Winnaretta Singer (1865-1943) was a millionaire at the age of eighteen, due to her inheriting a substantial part of the Singer Sewing Machine fortune. Her 1893 marriage to Prince Edmond de Polignac, an amateur composer, brought her into contact with the most elite strata of French society. After Edmond's death in 1901, she used her fortune to benefit the arts, science, and letters. Her most significant contribution was in the musical domain: in addition to subsidizing individual artists (Boulanger, Haskil, Rubinstein, Horowitz) and organizations (the Ballets Russes, l'Opéra de Paris, l'Orchestre Symphonique de Paris), she made a lifelong project of commissioning new musical works from composers, many of them unknown and struggling, to be performed in her Paris salon. The list of works created as a result is long and extraordinary: Stravinsky's Renard, Satie's Socrate, Falla'sEl Retablo de Maese Pedro, and Poulenc's Two-Piano and Organ Concertos are among the best-known titles. In addition, her salon was a gathering place for luminaries of French culture such as Proust, Cocteau, Monet, Diaghilev, and Colette. Many of Proust's memorable evocations of salon culture were born during his attendance at concerts in the Polignac music room. Sylvia Kahan brings to life this eccentric and extravagant lover of the arts, whose influence on the 20th Century world of music and literature remains incalculable. The American-born Winnaretta Singer (1865-1943) was a millionaire at the age of eighteen, due to her inheriting a substantial part of the Singer Sewing Machine fortune. Her 1893 marriage to Prince Edmond de Polignac, an amateur composer, brought her into contact with the most elite strata of French society. After Edmond's death in 1901, she used her fortune to benefit the arts, science, and letters. Her most significant contribution was in the musical domain: in addition to subsidizing individual artists (Boulanger, Haskil, Rubinstein, Horowitz) and organizations (the Ballets Russes, l'Opéra de Paris, l'Orchestre Symphonique de Paris), she made a lifelong project of commissioning new musical works from composers, many of them unknown and struggling, to be performed in her Paris salon. The list of works created as a result is long and extraordinary: Stravinsky's Renard, Satie's Socrate, Falla'sEl Retablo de Maese Pedro, and Poulenc's Two-Piano and Organ Concertos are among the best-known titles. In addition, her salon was a gathering place for luminaries of French culture such as Proust, Cocteau, Monet, Diaghilev, and Colette. Many of Proust's memorable evocations of salon culture were born during his attendance at concerts in the Polignac music room. Sylvia Kahan brings to life this eccentric and extravagant lover of the arts, whose influence on the 20th Century world of music and literature remains incalculable. The American-born Winnaretta Singer was a millionaire at eighteen, inheriting a substantial part of the Singer Sewing Machine fortune. She became a patron of musicians, companies and composers. Those she supported included Boulanger, Rubinstein, Horowitz, the Ballets russes, Stravinsky, Falla, Satie and Poulenc