MARIE NOVELLO
Welsh pianist (1898 – 1928)

Marie Novello was a child prodigy.  In 1907, at the age of nine, she was one of the honorees at the Cardiff Triennial Music Festival.  The other was Ferruccio Busoni.  In 1908 she toured with the likes of Royal Opera House star John McCormack,  In 1909 she made her first appearance at the Promenade Concerts as soloist in the Liszt first concerto accompanied by Sir Henry Wood and the Queen's Hall Orchestra.  Shortly thereafter, she became one of Leschetizky's last pupils. And in 1921 she toured The United States.

Marie Novello was well on her way to superstardom when her life was cut short tragically by throat cancer at the age of 30.

The Rameau piece below is exquisite. Her Debussy is stunning, particularly the Clair de Lune in which the implied turbulence of the passing clouds lends depth and excitement to a piece that is so often rendered banal. Even the Liszt Rhapsody is magical under her fingertips.

Six pieces are all I have been able to find of this pianist.  But what wonders there are in these six short works for piano.  And what might we have had from her had she lived another 30 years.

Rameau  Gavottes pour les Heures et les Zéphirs from the Opera Les Boréades

recorded in 1927