PARADIS, Maria Theresa Von – Das Gartnerliedchen (The Gardener’s Song) – FOUR CELLOS

Other Identification:
Maria Theresia Paradis (also von Paradies) (May 15, 1759 – February 1, 1824), was an Austrian music performer and composer who lost her sight at an early age, and for whom Mozart may have written his Piano Concerto No. 18 in B flat major. In spite of blindness, Paradis had an excellent memory and exceptionally accurate hearing, as she was widely reported to have learned over 60 concertos by heart, as well as a large repertoire of solo and religious works.

During her concerts around Europe, Paradis began composing solo music for piano as well as pieces for voice and keyboard (mid-1770s). By the year 1789, Paradis was spending more time with composition than performance, as shown by the fact that from 1789 to 1797 she composed five operas and three cantatas.

However, after the failure of the opera Rinaldo und Alcina in 1797, she shifted her energy over more and more to teaching. In 1808, she founded her own music school in Vienna where she taught singing, piano and theory to young girls. A Sunday concert series at this school featured the work of her outstanding pupils. She continued to teach up until her death in 1824.

Her songs are mostly representative of the operatic style, which displays coloratura and trills. Salieri’s influence may be seen in the dramatically composed scenes. Much of the stage work is modeled on the Viennese Singspiel style, while her piano works show a great influence by her teacher Leopold Kozeluch.