Princess Elena Bibescu (1855 – October 18, 1902) was a Romanian noblewoman and pianist, regarded as one of the greatest pianists of Europe in the nineteenth century.[1][2]
In France, she became famous for being an outstanding pianist, but also for being a protector of culture. Princess Bibescu held, for three decades, one of the most prestigious salons of Paris in the second half of the 19th century.[3]Marcel Proust, Franz Liszt, Richard Wagner, Pierre Loti, Anatole France, Claude Debussy and Charles Gounod were just a few of the great European personalities who frequented the famous artistic salon.[4][5][6]
Elena Bibescu debuted on February 14, 1873 in Bucharest, in a charity concert held at Grand Theatre of Bucharest, in the presence of KingCarol I and Queen Elisabeth of Romania. Elena Bibescu was a protectress of George Enescu, alongside Queen Elisabeth, and promoted the Romanian musician among the French elite.[7] In 1954, more than 5 decades after her death, Enescu dedicated to her memory the symphonic poem, Vox Maris.[8]
She was a student of the pivotal figure of Russian culture, pianist and composer Anton Rubinstein at the Vienna Conservatory, one of the most prestigious institutions of its kind in the world.[9] Elena Bibescu brilliantly graduated from the Vienna Conservatory, where she was awarded a medal and a diploma of honor.[10][11]
After returning to Romania in October 1902 and residing in the family's manor in Epureni, a few kilometers away from Bârlad, Elena was transported to Iași after falling ill from cancer. She died shortly afterward on 18 October 1902.[12]
^"Historia" Special. Year II, nr. 4, September 2013, page 24 – "George Enescu, fața nevăzută a unui geniu" (English: "George Enescu, the unseen face of a genius"). ISSN 1582-7968
