Wanda Landowska

Wanda Landowska, a luminary who resurrected the harpsichord from the shadows of its Baroque past into the bright lights of the 20th-century concert stage, spanned borders, cultures, and musical epochs to redefine what it meant to be both a musician and an innovator. Born in Warsaw, Poland, on July 5, 1879, her life and legacy encapsulate the story of an artist who forged her own path, braving the onslaught of personal and political turmoil to leave an indelible mark on the world of music. Her early musical education in Warsaw and Berlin provided Landowska with a robust foundation in piano, theory, and composition, yet it was her encounter with early music that set her on an unorthodox trajectory. In an era dominated by romantic repertoire, Landowska was drawn to the crystalline structures of Bach, Couperin, and Rameau. Her fascination with the harpsichord—a then-antiquated instrument long replaced by the modern piano—marked the genesis of her lifelong mission. The early 1900s were a period of fervent exploration and study for Landowska. She immersed herself in the research of original manuscripts and historical performance practices. Her dedication to authenticity was intense, and she became a pioneer of the historically informed performance movement, decades before this approach became commonplace in classical music circles. In 1909, Landowska settled in Paris, a city whose rich artistic milieu embraced innovation. Within this vibrant setting, she gave her first public harpsichord recital, an event that signaled the instrument's renewed presence on the concert stage. The reactions were mixed, but Landowska's performances gradually won over skeptics who could not resist the clarity and vitality she brought to her interpretations. Wanda Landowska's relocation to Saint-Leu-la-Forêt in the 1920s with her life partner Denise Restout proved to be a fertile period. There she established her own music school, the École de Musique Ancienne, attracting students from around the world eager to learn the art of the harpsichord. Her teachings emphasized an approach that balanced scholarly rigor with expressive performance. Her influence and prestige were such that composers began crafting music with her in mind. Notably, Manuel de Falla's "Concerto for Harpsichord" and Francis Poulenc’s "Concert champêtre" are works that owe their existence to Landowska’s catalytic presence in the musical world. These compositions, tailored to her unique style, underscored the harpsichord's versatility beyond its conventional associations with pre-1770 repertoire. The onset of World War II brought with it significant upheaval. Fleeing the advancing German forces in 1940, Landowska endured the emotional and professional strain of exile, relocating to the safety of the United States. Despite leaving behind her beloved Pleyel harpsichord and the trove of musical ephemera that was her life’s work, Landowska remained undaunted. She resumed her performing and teaching career in New York and later Lakeville, Connecticut, her resilience a testament to her unwavering spirit. In the United States, her influence expanded even further. The post-war period saw Landowska exert significant influence over a new generation of American musicians and audiences increasingly hungry for music history’s rich textures. Her trailblazing recordings for RCA Victor during the late 1940s and 1950s were ground-breaking. By capturing landmark performances of Bach's "Goldberg Variations" and the "Well-Tempered Clavier," Landowska solidified the harpsichord’s place in both the home and the concert hall. Her renditions brought a warmth and insight that spoke as fluently to her era as Bach’s music had to his own. Landowska’s career, stretching over six decades, was defined not only by her achievements on the stage and in the studio, but also by her writings. Her articulate commentaries, manifest in publications like "Landowska on Music," reveal the mind of a musician who was analytical, passionate, and, ultimately, humane in her understanding of the art form. Her death in Lakeville on August 16, 1959, marked the end of a formidable journey, but her legacy endures. Landowska's life work laid the groundwork for subsequent rebirths and reevaluations in historical music performance. Her insistence on letting the "spirit of the time past" breathe anew set standards that continue to challenge and inspire musicians today. Wanda Landowska’s harpsichord, once considered a relic, became central to exploring the expressive capacity of early music. Her life was a testament to artistic defiance and innovation, framed by an unwavering dedication to her instrument and a profound love for music’s enduring language. She forged a legacy of revivalism that, while anchored in history, speaks continually to the future.