Thomas Tellefsen

Thomas Dyke Acland Tellefsen (26 November 1823 – 6 October 1874) was a Norwegian pianist, composer, and teacher. As a composer, Tellefsen wrote 44 opuses, including solo piano works, two piano concertos, and chamber music. He dedicated many of his compositions to the Polish, Russian, and French aristocracy. Life Tellefsen, the youngest of six siblings, Thomas gave his first public concert in his home town in the spring of 1842, age 18. Here, he became the pupil of his compatriot Charlotte Thygeson (1811–1872; a daughter of Nicolai Emanuel de Thygeson), Tellefsen’s “highest wish”—to study under Chopin—was hugely difficult. Tellefsen stated that it was “more difficult to reach Chopin than Louis-Philippe”. It was not until November 1844—through the influence of George Sand—that Tellefsen finally attained this wish. Tellefsen’s letters indicate Chopin’s interest in him, spending as much as three hours at a single lesson, During the years 1844 to 1848, According to Tellefsen, Ludwika gave him the only complete manuscript of Chopin’s compositions remaining after his death, which Tellefsen later used for his edition of Chopin’s works. Princess Marcelina Czartoryska took him to the Hôtel L