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Hélène de Montgeroult (born 2 March 1764 in Lyon; died 20 May 1836 in Florence) was a French composer and pianist. Recognised as one of the best fortepiano performers and improvisers of her time, and a published composer, Montgeroult adapted to the rapid development of her instrument by makers such as Erard.

Born in Lyon, she spent some years in Paris studying with Hüllmandel, Dussek and later with Clementi, making acquaintances with the most notable Parisian salons of the time, and becoming one of the leading figures of the aristocratic world. Her fame increased just before the beginning of the French Revolution. Being married to the Marquis André Marie Gautier de Montgeroult, and being herself of noble descent, she lost some of her fortune during the Terror period and, despite supporting the Revolution in the first years, some sources indicate that she escaped the guillotine by improvising at the fortepiano some variations on La Marseillaise before the Revolutionary Tribunal. In 1795 the new Conservatoire de Musique was founded, and Montgeroult was appointed as first-class piano teacher, being the first woman to teach there.
While her work and contributions were largely overlooked during her lifetime, she is now recognized as a significant figure in the history of piano music. One of her most notable achievements is her collection of piano sonatas, which showcases her unique musical voice and virtuosity.
Montgeroult`s piano sonatas embody the spirit of the Classical era while also pushing the boundaries of traditional composition. Her compositions feature intricate and expressive melodies, rich harmonies, and innovative use of form. She displayed a deep understanding of piano technique, incorporating challenging passages and elaborate ornamentation into her works. Each sonata tells a story, evoking a range of emotions from joy and exuberance to introspection and melancholy.

Hélène de Nervo was born in Lyon into a non-landed family of recent nobility. Her father, Jean-Baptiste de Nervo, held several positions in the Lyon judiciary and inherited his title of nobility of the first degree as a councilor of the Chamber of Currency from his father, who bought the title.
Hélène spent some of her early years in Paris, taking lessons from the great masters of the keyboard. These included Nicolas-Josef Hüllmandel, Jan Ladislav Dussek and possibly Muzio Clementi.
In 1784, Hélène married her first husband, Marquis André Marie Gautier de Mongeroux. She performed in many famous Parisian salons, where she met the violinist Giovanni Battista Viotti, with whom she developed a creative friendship.
During the early years of the French Revolution, the marquis and marquise associated with moderate revolutionaries.
In 1793, the marquis and marquise accompanied Marais, who had recently been appointed ambassador to Naples. While crossing Piedmont they were stopped by the Austrians at Novate Mezzola. The members of the expedition were imprisoned for 10 days in the Gravedona prison, then kept in the palace of the Dukes of Mantua. The Marquis died there.
During the arrest, some women and children were beaten with rifle butts, and the expedition was plundered. They managed to find refuge in Vico Soprano. Eventually, the Marchioness managed to find protection with François de Batelemy, the French minister in Baden, where she also found Viotti. She remained there until October 23, 1793.
While the Marquise and Marquis de Mongeroux were in custody away from France, a denunciatory letter was sent to the Jacobins of Paris on August 1, 1793, describing their conduct and listing some of their possessions.
In the register of applications, the Marquise of Mongeroux is referred to as `citizen Gautier-Mongeroux, an artist whose husband was cowardly murdered by the Austrians in order to use his talent for patriotic celebrations.` Therefore, the marquise was allowed to stay in Paris.
It appears that the Marchioness lost most of her fortune during these troubled years. However, the money earned from a series of successful concerts in England at this time allowed her to purchase the Château de la Salle, located in the canton of Senonche, in 1794.
On August 3, 1795, the Law establishing the Conservatory of Music in Paris for the teaching of this art was announced, which stated that the institution was looking for six teachers of the harpsichord. After passing the competition, Hélène de Mongeroux was appointed first-class teacher of the men`s piano class.
After two and a half years of teaching, Helen resigned in 1798, citing health problems, much to the regret of the leaders of the Conservatory.
During the years of the Consulate and the Empire, Hélène continued to compose and publish her works for keyboard instruments. In addition to composition, the Marquise continued to share her art in her Salon, where she gathered friends under the slogan “Mondays of Madame de Mongeroux.” For the Marchioness it was an opportunity to bring together close friends and play with musicians of her era such as Alexandre Boucher, Viotti, Baio, Cherubini and Kreutzer.
In 1820, the Marchioness married Count Edouard Dunot de Charnage, who was 19 years her junior. In the same year, her Cours Complete pour l`enseignement du fortepiano was published, although it had been completed several years earlier.
She continued to run her musical Salon, in which Ignaz Moscheles played until 1820.
In 1826, the Marchioness was widowed again after an accident with the Count. In 1834, she left Paris and settled with her son in Italy: first in Padua, then in Pisa and finally in Florence. She died there and was buried in Santa Croce.