Vera Timanova
Russian pianist and teacher (b. 6/18 February 1855 in Ufa; d. 22 February 1942 in Leningrad), born Vera Viktorovna Timanova (Вера Викторовна Тиманова).
She was born into a wealthy family in Ufa, Bashkortostan, and showed an early musical aptitude. From the age of six she began taking piano instruction from local teachers, and gave her first public performance, featuring a Mozart concerto, three years later. On the recommendation of Anton Rubinstein, Timanova was admitted to Carl Tausig's piano school in Berlin, and she went on to study under Franz Liszt.
A frequent performer in Russia and western Europe, she eventually settled in Saint Petersburg in 1907, where she gave concerts and piano tuition. Her last public performance was in 1937, when she was 82 years of age. She died during the siege of Leningrad in 1942.
Dedications
In 1873, Tchaikovsky dedicated his piano piece Scherzo humoristique — No. 2 of the Six Pieces, Op. 19 — "à Mademoiselle Vera Timanof".
Correspondence with Tchaikovsky
One letter from Tchaikovsky to Vera Timanova has survived, dating from 1887, and has been translated into English on this website:
- Letter 3406 – 17/29 November 1887, from Maydanovo.
2 letters from Vera Timanova to the composer, dating from 1887, are preserved in the Tchaikovsky State Memorial Musical Museum-Reserve at Klin (a4, Nos. 4285 and 4286).