Elena Asachi

File:Elena Asachi.jpg

Elena Asachi, née Teyber; also known as Hélène and Eleonora (30 October 1789 – 9 May 1877) was a Romanian pianist, singer translator and composer of Austrian birth. She was the daughter of Austrian composer Anton Teyber and niece of concertmaster Franz Teyber. She studied music under her father as a child in Dresden. Later she studied in Vienna under opera singer Domenico Donzelli. She became a professor at Iași Conservatory where she was known as a pianist and composer from 1827 to 1863. She married Gheorghe Asachi, with whom she collaborated on songs and theatrical works. Together with her husband she promoted the creation of the first music institute in the Principality of Moldavia, the Philharmonic-Drama Conservatory.

Life

Elena Asachi was born Elena Teyber, on 30 October 1789 in Vienna. She was the daughter of Austrian composer Anton Teyber and the niece of concertmaster Franz Teyber. Asachi was a pianist, singer, translator and composer.{{Cite book |last=Cohen |first=Aaron I. |title=International Encyclopedia of Women Composers |publisher=Books & Music (USA) |year=1987 |isbn=0-9617485-0-8 |edition=2nd |location=South Africa |pages=33}} She studied music under her father as a child in Dresden, including theory, solfege, harmony and counterpoint. Later, around 1882, she studied in Vienna under opera singer Domenico Donzelli.{{cite book |last1=Sadie |first1=Julie Anne |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IvoQQU1QL_QC&pg=PA25 |title=The Norton/Grove dictionary of women composers |last2=Samuel |first2=Rhian |publisher=W. W. Norton & Company |year=1994 |isbn=9780393034875 |pages=25 |access-date=4 October 2010}} After completing her studies, she became a professor at Iași Conservatory where she was known as a pianist and composer from 1827 to 1863. She married Gheorghe Asachi, with whom she collaborated on songs and theatrical works.{{cite book |title=Romanian review: Volume 31 |year=1977}} Together with her husband she promoted the creation of the first music institute in the Principality of Moldavia - the Philharmonic-Drama Conservatory.

Asachi adapted works by other composers for use in Romanian plays, including works by Vincenzo Bellini, Daniel Auber, Saverio Mercadante, Gaspare Spontini, and Giuseppe Verdi. She also translated scientific and social articles into Romanian, including a children's encyclopedia, translated from the French.

Asachi died on the 9 May 1877 in Iași.