Teresa Carreño in Madrid (1915): Concert at Teatro de la Comedia and the Fire That Changed Everything

Teresa Carreño performs at the Teatro de la Comedia

By then, Teresa was 62 years old and had been invited by the Madrid Philharmonic Society.

The Ibero-American magazine Arte Musical, issue no. 9 (May 15, 1915), in its “Madrid Musical” section (fortnightly chronicle), reports:

“At the Philharmonic, Teresa Carreño, the great Venezuelan, the lioness of the piano, gave a concert at the Comedia on the 17th of last month; that very night the beautiful theatre burned down, she fell ill, and not until the 10th and 12th of the present month did we have the remaining concerts, held at the Princesa.”

“When, in a first-rate virtuoso, the passing years temper the ardor of the spirit without diminishing their faculties, a marvelous case occurs: interpretation acquires such sublime serenity, such inconceivable assurance and perfection, that the music seems to rise pure and free from the instrument, without the intermediary of the artist.”

“The inexpressible art of Teresa Carreño remains forever engraved in our feelings; we shall never forget the truth and refinement of her playing, the calm, the radiant serenity of her interpretation. The sonatas (Beethoven, F minor, Op. 57, and E, Op. 27; Schumann, G minor; Chopin, B minor) were delivered in a single breath. Other works included the Symphonic Études (Schumann) and the Handel Variations (Brahms), the Chromatic Fantasy, and pieces by Liszt, Schubert, and Chopin.”

Following what happened to the theatre building, and after Teresa’s recovery, other concerts were rescheduled, including a private one by invitation of the Royal Household for the King and other members of the Spanish court, who also honored her with gifts. Carreño would stay for the last time at the Hotel Palace and would not return to Spain again.

In conclusion, I should note that regarding these visits of Teresa Carreño to Spain, I present only those I have been able to verify through written sources such as magazines, newspapers, and periodicals of the time. These can be found and cross-checked in newspaper archives and at the National Library of Spain.

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