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6 unusual facts about Pauline Viardot


Ivan Turgenev

Among them were Alexander Herzen and Turgenev himself, although the latter's decision to settle abroad probably had more to do with his fateful love for Pauline Viardot than anything else.

During the latter part of his life, Turgenev did not reside much in Russia: he lived either at Baden-Baden or Paris, often in proximity to the family of the celebrated opera singer Pauline Viardot, with whom he had a lifelong affair.

Turgenev, whose knowledge of Spanish, thanks to his contact with Pauline Viardot and her family, was good enough for him to have considered translating Cervantes's novel into Russian, played an important role in introducing this immortal figure of world literature into the Russian context.

Pauline Viardot

Teresa Berganza and Jorge Chaminé are the president and artistic director of the Festival de Bougival.

Since then and thanks to the baritone Jorge Chaminé the Villa is an important venue to concerts and Master Classes.

Susannah Waters

Her discography includes Henry Purcell's King Arthur (conducted by William Christie, 1995) and Dido and Æneas (led by Martin Pearlman, 1996), as well as Pauline Viardot's Cendrillon (2000).


Giuditta Pasta

Kemble asked fellow-singer Pauline Viardot what she thought of her voice now and got the reply ‘It is a ruin, but then so is Leonardo’s Last Supper’.

Raimund von zur-Mühlen

After this he continued working on his capabilities as a singer, above all with Manuel Garcia, Beniamino Carelli and Pauline Viardot.


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