Background
She was at first taught by her father, Manuel Antonio Carreño.
She was at first taught by her father, Manuel Antonio Carreño.
Born into a musical family, her talent was recognized at an early age. In 1862 her family emigrated to New York City. She received lessons from Louis Moreau Gottschalk.
At the age of 8 she made her debut at Irving Hall that same year.
In 1863 she performed for Abraham Lincoln at the White House. In 1866 she moved to Europe.
She had lessons from Georges Mathias, a pupil of Chopin, and Anton Rubinstein. She began touring, making her debut as an opera singer in 1876.
She toured Australia at least once.
Franz Liszt offered her lessons, but she declined. She did not return to Venezuela until 1885, and then only for a short period. In 1889 she returned to Europe for more touring, settling in Berlin.
She mounted two world tours in the early years of the twentieth century, but her health deteriorated.
She died at 7:00 pm on June 12, 1917 in her apartment in New York City. She performed several times at Henry Wood"s promenade concerts.
He wrote: "lieutenant is difficult to express adequately what all musicians felt about this great woman who looked like a queen among pianists - and played like a goddess. The instant she walked onto the platform her steady dignity held her audience who watched with riveted attention while she arranged the long train she habitually wore.
Her masculine vigour of tone and touch and her marvellous precision on executing octave passages carried everyone completely away." The Teresa Carreño Cultural Complex in Caracas is named after her, as is a crater on Venus.
