Pauline Viardot Romance for Violin

Ulf Schneider (violin) and Stephan Imorde (piano) perform ’Romance’, the first of Pauline Viardot-Garcia’s 6 Morceaux pour piano et violon, dedicated to her son Paul and first published in Paris in 1867. Pauline Viardot, sister of La Malibran, was herself a very successful opera singer and close friend of both Chopin and George Sand. Brahms wrote his Alto Rhapsody for her, and in later years she became friendly with many up-coming composers including Tchaikovsky and Fauré,. She owned the original manuscript of Mozart’s Don Giovanni, which she donated to the Paris Conservatoire. Throughout her life she spent much time composing (including several operas) and arranging music for voice (including a set of Chopin’s Mazurkas, several of which she performed with Chopin himself). Born in Paris on 18 July 1821 she died on 18 May 1910 at the age of 88. For more information on Ulf Schneider please visit and