Through the years, musical families have caused several anecdotes: the Bachs, for example, dominated the German musical world. Johann Sebastian was one of the most extraordinary musicians of all times, and his children kept the lastname in a high place during the 18 th century.
The same with the Scarlattis in Italy and Spain, or the Couperins in France, during the same years. During the 19 th century, the Strausses, father and children, made Vienna first and finally all Europe dance to the rhythm of waltz.
However, in today’s anecdotes, we will be referring to the musical union between siblings, something that also motivates the audience’s attention.
Leopold, Mozart’s father, went around Europe presenting his children: Maria Anna and Wolfgang Amadeus, five years younger, who in time became an adult prodigy. Also nown as Nannerl, Maria Anna Mozart, was eclipsed by her brother Amadeus, with whom she shared some tours under their father’s guidance, the also famous Leopold Mozart.
During the 19th century, the most praised were the Mendelssohns: Fanny was born in 1805 and Felix in 1809, more than gifted, he was a prodigy child. Fanny had to compose in an anonymous way.
Even though she took part in the "musical Sundays" her mother organized, they really served mainly to promote her brother. On the contrary of Leopold Mozart, Abraham Mendelssohn did not turn them into a business, he did not need that because he was immensely rich: to tell the truth, he cut Fanny’s wings and made things easier for Felix, who became the most respected musician in Europe after Beethoven’s death. Curiously, Mozart and Mendelssohn, prodigy children, both died in their early years.
The sisters Giulia Grisi and Giuditta Grisi were two of the most famous singers in the 19th century. Art was flowing through their veins because their aunt Giuseppina Grassini was one of the great divas in the early 19 th century and one of Napoleon’s lovers and also of the Duke of Wellington.
Giuditta, the oldest, was an alto. She became famous when Bellini wrote his opera I Capuleti e I Montecchi for her. She did not leave such a strong legacy like Giulia did, because she was not a soprano; in the summit of her career, when she was the most popular alto in the world, she died at the age of 34.
Giulia was born in 1811 and let us just say she sang at the premiere of Norma and I Puritani by Bellini. Since she married Giovanni Mario, the most famous tenor in his time, who was a noble man, she could show off her title of Marquise of Candia. She was one of the first divas in having tours around America, and her career lasted for more than 30 years.
The most famous brothers in the musical world during the last decades of the 19th century and the early 20 th century were the De Reszkes, who were Polish.
Jean, the oldest, is said to be the most famous and best paid tenor in the world. His voice was almost perfect, he was a refined musician, an excellent actor and really handsome according to the criteria back then. In the world of tenors, Jean, who started his career as a baritone, had no rival, because he could sing anything, and he was the first tenor who managed to sing, instead of screaming, Wagner’s music.
Edouard, three years younger than Jean, was the best bass in the world, the best in history since Luigi Lablanche, who sang in Beethoven’s burial and in Chopin’s. Edouard was a giant and he had the voice of a thunder. George Bernard Shaw used to say he was: "alarmingly potent".
Of course, all the expectations aroused when the brothers De Reszkes were singing together, a luxury just a few theaters could afford, even more when their presence was demanded by the Patti or the Melba, who were the most famous and most expensive sopranos in the world.
Jean and Edouard had a sister, Josephine, a soprano, who sang with them, but she preferred to retire. The youngest brother, Victor, had a lovely voice, but he refused to study singing, and once he said: "We have enough fools in this family".
Translation by Alberto Morales