MARGUERITE MELVILLE LISZNIEWSKI, Prodigy-assistant LESCHETIZKY-SEPIA PHOTO+card

Description

You are bidding on 2 dated photos of Marguerite Melville.
1)7"x 9" SEPIA photo inscribed to "My dear Francis Mae Martin in remembrance of happy hours together at the piano
and with every good wish for success and happiness," (signed) Marguerite Melville, Hollywood, August 1926." Photo in VF+ condition.
2) 3-1.2" x 5-1/2" postcard-2/12/1917 with b/w photo of MARGUERITE MELVILLE LISZNIEWSKI (1879-1935) child prodigy, Leschetizky's assistant in Vienna.
William Steinway was so impressed with her talents that he paid her expenses for musical training in Europe.
Marguerite was born in Brooklyn, NY.
The postcard is addressed to violinist, Miss Alma Patton (1886-    ) 240 W. Church St. Jacksonville, FL. Alma had studied violin in Berlin with Michael Press and Arthur Hartmann; she later taught in FL.
Marguerite married diplomat, Count Karol Liszniewski in 1907; Two children were born there in 1909 and 1910.
Karol Liszniewski had lost the use of his right hand in his second duel to a Polish nobleman who also wanted the hand of Marguerite. Since Karol was declared the winner he won the hand of Marguerite in marriage.
In 1917 she was offered a teaching position at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. After World War l the couple moved to London with their two children later coming to Cincinnati where she accepted chairmanship of the piano department.
Dr. Liszniewski was appointed Secretary to the Polish Legation in Washington, leaving the children three more years in London with Mme. Liszniewska's sister.
In 1922, the family was reunited when Karol joined the faculty of Cincinnati Conservatory and the children joined the parents.
On December 16, 1926, Marguerite played for President and Mrs. Coolidge in the White House.
Karol remained on the piano faculty until his retirement in 1956 and he died in 1958.
In her prime, Marguerite was considered one of the leading, if not the leading woman pianist in the world.
In ink Marguerite writes to Alma,
What a queer world it is and whatever are you doing down in Fla! I was glad to hear from you again after such a long time, and thank you for your letter. Mabel (Marguerite's mother) had been on my mind constantly. I have been so busy day and night that I haven't had a moment to write her but bust. All good wishes to you. From you affect, (signed) Marguerite M. L.
Marguerite composed two works well known in the repertoire: Sonata in G minor for violin and piano and her Piano Quintet.
Postcard in very fine condition.