1846- 1918
Sophie Menter was a German pianist and composer who became the favorite student of Franz List. Because of her electrifying playing style she was considered one of the greatest piano virtuosos of her time.
Sophie Menter was born in Munich, the daughter of cellist Josef Menter and singer Wilhelmine Menter (née Diepold). She studied piano with a German pianist and music teacher, and one of the founders of the Stuttgart Music School Siegmund Lebert and later Friedrich Niest.
Her first concert appearances took her to Stuttgart, Frankfurt and Switzerland. She became a pupil of Liszt in 1869. She was married to cellist David Popper. In 1881 she first appeared in England and was awarded honorary membership of the Royal Philharmonic Society two years later.
Sophie Menter’s Concert
On 18 March
“On Sunday, a famous European pianist, Sophie Menter, conducted a concert in the summer theatre of Tbilisi. This amazing player was trained by the famous pianist and composer Liszt. Her artistic prowess, swiftness of fingers, amazing power and accuracy in playing, astonished the listeners. Passages of strong music, which sounded like hail and thunderstorm, changed into passages of sweet, mysterious sounds, and listeners felt the power and influence of that music upon themselves. These sounds reminded listeners of the sounds they have heard somewhere; they made their heart race and feel that this music was derived directly from the life of nature.
“The brilliant pianist enchanted listeners with her performance of pieces of music of famous composer Liszt. The audience greeted Sophie Menter with ovations and bid farewell to her with ovations too.
“Unfortunately, that concert was attended by few Georgians. A pianist of such a talent can rarely be seen and we must not leave such talent without attention.”
The newspaper Droeba, issue #63,
21 March, 1884