Farrenc Generation

The period 1830-1850, marked by profound political upheaval, coincided with a fertile phase in French musical life. Paris was then a cultural capital that attracted talents from across Europe, such as the Polish composer Frédéric Chopin and the Hungarian Franz Liszt. In the shadow of the great opera composers who gave birth to the genre of grand opéra, the world of chamber music sought its own path, balancing virtuosity and introspection. In this context, Louise Farrenc established herself as a leading figure, a guarantor of the classical style directly descended from Beethoven; in doing so, she laid the foundation for a history of the violin sonata in France that the following generation—particularly Théodore Gouvy—would not forget.