Esmeralda Athanasiu-Gardeev

Esmeralda Athanasiu-Gardeev (also Esméralda Athanassiou-Gardéev, 1834–1917) was a Romanian pianist and composer. She studied piano and composition in Paris with Julius Schulhoff and composition in St. Petersburg with Anton Rubinstein. She married a Russian general, who introduced her to European aristocracy. Athanasiu-Gardeev taught singing, lute and piano, and her compositions are influenced by Romanian folklore. She published a large number of salon compositions, often with French titles, and dedicated to members of the aristrocracy. Life Athanasiu-Gardeev was born in Galaţi, Moldavia, in 1834. Scott describes some of Athanasiu-Gardeev’s piano compositions as technically extremely difficult, and also says “her Rumänisches Charakterstück contains examples of rich romantic harmony, such as half-diminished sevenths and dominant ninths, and there is a Lisztian cadenza… but despite her composition lessons, there are plenty of examples of amateurish technique.” Works Many of Athanasiu-Gardeev’s compositions were based on Romanian folklore. She published a large number of salon compositions, often with French titles, and dedicated to members of the aristrocracy. Selected works include