Louise Dubin
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Franchomme
| (c) 2011 Louise Dubin. All rights reserved. |
Trois Nocturnes Pour Le Violoncelle, Op. 14. One of the many original editions of Franchomme’s out-of-print works housed in the Bibliothèque Nationale Francaise in Paris
Reading room of the music division of BNF, Paris.
10 Rue la Bruyere, Paris. Franchomme spent his happiest years in this
apartment, living here at least until 1850.
apartment, living here at least until 1850.
Louise with Denys Couturier, descendant of Auguste Franchomme, relaxing at
dinner after a tour of Parisian sites connected to his ancestor
dinner after a tour of Parisian sites connected to his ancestor
Franchomme's gravestone, which has some lovely words he wrote
about his wife, who predeceased him (as did his son and one of his
two daughters).
about his wife, who predeceased him (as did his son and one of his
two daughters).
Louise with Sophie Ruhlmann, in Blois. Sophie is a renowned Chopin scholar who
has also researched Franchomme
has also researched Franchomme
Louise playing Franchomme’s practice cello in Tours, at the house of
Thierry André, its owner.
Thierry André, its owner.
Le Côteau is the since-enlarged house where Chopin and Franchomme spent a
happy summer vacation in 1833. The house was owned by
cellist/composer/lawyer Jules Forest, dedicatee of Franchomme's Adagio and
Bolero. His daughter Adele was an accomplished pianist and the dedicatee of
the Grand Duo Concertante on Robert le Diable. She began taking lessons from
Chopin just before this vacation of his at her house. In September 1833, Chopin
and Franchomme performed the piece in Tours (nine miles from Le Côteau), at a
concert arranged by Jules Forest, in what may have been its first performance.
Chopin remembered his vacation here fondly in several letters, and returned at
least once more; Franchomme returned often. The son of Adele later bequeathed
the house to Paul Andre, grandchild of Franchomme, and part of its surrounding
forest to another grandchild, René Edouard Andre. Azay-sur-Cher, near Tours.
happy summer vacation in 1833. The house was owned by
cellist/composer/lawyer Jules Forest, dedicatee of Franchomme's Adagio and
Bolero. His daughter Adele was an accomplished pianist and the dedicatee of
the Grand Duo Concertante on Robert le Diable. She began taking lessons from
Chopin just before this vacation of his at her house. In September 1833, Chopin
and Franchomme performed the piece in Tours (nine miles from Le Côteau), at a
concert arranged by Jules Forest, in what may have been its first performance.
Chopin remembered his vacation here fondly in several letters, and returned at
least once more; Franchomme returned often. The son of Adele later bequeathed
the house to Paul Andre, grandchild of Franchomme, and part of its surrounding
forest to another grandchild, René Edouard Andre. Azay-sur-Cher, near Tours.
(amazing stuff in the music department, but dress accordingly-- no air
conditioning!)
conditioning!)
Franchomme's affection for Touraine began at Le Côteau and he returned to the
region throughout his life. His daughter Louise later purchased this house with
her husband Edouard Andre, in nearby La Croix en Touraine. Later in his life
Franchomme would often stay there. In 2005, it was sold by Franchomme’s
descendants to the town, and is now the Town Hall.
region throughout his life. His daughter Louise later purchased this house with
her husband Edouard Andre, in nearby La Croix en Touraine. Later in his life
Franchomme would often stay there. In 2005, it was sold by Franchomme’s
descendants to the town, and is now the Town Hall.
August Franchomme, later in life, playing with the Alard Quartet. Reproduction of
Plate LXXXVIII, "Musique de chambre en 1878.” This plate is the frontispiece to
Volume 3 of Antoine Vidal's Les Instruments A Archet: Les feseurs, Les Joueurs
D'Instrument, avec planche gravees a l'eau-forte par Frederic Hillemacher. Paris:
Imprimerie de J. Claye, 1877
Plate LXXXVIII, "Musique de chambre en 1878.” This plate is the frontispiece to
Volume 3 of Antoine Vidal's Les Instruments A Archet: Les feseurs, Les Joueurs
D'Instrument, avec planche gravees a l'eau-forte par Frederic Hillemacher. Paris:
Imprimerie de J. Claye, 1877
Louise with 7 direct descendants of Franchomme, Paris 2011: Elisabeth, Claire,
Thierry, me, Denys, Marie-Christine, Florence, and Beatrice. A lovely 19th century
painting of Auguste's son René in the background. René was a prodigy cellist and
budding composer who died at age 19.
Thierry, me, Denys, Marie-Christine, Florence, and Beatrice. A lovely 19th century
painting of Auguste's son René in the background. René was a prodigy cellist and
budding composer who died at age 19.
Louise playing Auguste Franchomme's Forster cello at a party in Paris, 2011.
Among the guests were the seven Franchomme descendants pictured above!
Among the guests were the seven Franchomme descendants pictured above!
Elisabeth Pénicaud-Legagneur (great-great granddaughter of Auguste Franchomme) wearing a prized 19th century cameo of René Franchomme, son of Auguste