Maria Theresia von Paradis was a blind Austrian pianist and composer during the Classical and early Romantic eras, and was instrumental in setting up the Institut National des Jeunes Aveugles (Institute for Blind Youth) which included amongst its pupils composers such as Langlais, Litaize and Marchal, and Louis Braille who then became a teacher there.
Friends with Mozart and Salieri, Maria was the goddaughter of Empress Maria Theresa of Austria, and when touring with her playing and singing, met with Marie Antionette and English royalty George III, with The Times referring to her as ‘The Blind Enchantress’.
Today’s choice comes from her second opera – a singspiel (like Magic Flute), premiered in 1792, and follows the growing style of increased woodwind work seen in late Mozart and in Beethoven symphonic work.
A fuller biography can be found here: https://www.classicfm.com/discover-music/maria-theresia-von-paradis-blind-pianist-singer-composer
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