Evelyn Suart

Evelyn Suart, from a 1900 publication.

Evelyn Suart, Lady Harcourt (30 April 1881 – 26 October 1950) was an English pianist.

She was born in 1881 in Sindapore, India, the daughter of Brigadier-General W. H. Suart,[1] and she spent some of her early childhood there. She also lived for periods in Gibraltar and England.[2] Her piano studies were with Storck in Brussels, Raoul Pugno in Paris and Theodor Leschetizky in Vienna. She made six tours and appeared in Vienna, Brussels, London, and with the Berlin and Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestras. In London she often played at the St. James's Hall, under conductors such as Hans Richter and Sir Henry J. Wood, and appeared with violinists of the calibre of Eugène Ysaÿe and Karel Halíř, and other artists.

Her British premieres included the original version of Sergei Rachmaninoff's 1st Piano Concerto (under Wood, 4 October 1900),[3][4] Max Reger's Violin Sonata No. 5 in F-sharp minor (with Halíř), and pieces by Debussy, Ravel, H. Balfour Gardiner, and most particularly Cyril Scott. She met Scott in 1902 and soon became his champion, frequently playing his works, and introducing him to his publisher, Elkin.[5][6] Scott dedicated his Scherzo, Op. 25, to her.[6][7]

She was also a Christian Scientist,[8] and interested in metaphysics. It was through her that Cyril Scott began his lifelong interest in such matters.[6]

Evelyn Suart was a President of the Society of Women Musicians. She died in London in 1950.

  1. ^ Royal Navy (RN) Officers 1939-45 at unithistories.com, accessed 3 April 2018
  2. ^ Harcourt Articles 2 Lady Evelyn Harcourt, nee Suart - Information Provided by Rebekah Coombs: A Talented Concert Pianist who pioneered modern music. at members.iinet.net.au, accessed 3 April 2018
  3. ^ BBC Proms[dead link‍]
  4. ^ Programme notes for SERGEI RACHMANINOFF: Symphony No. 2 in E minor Op. 27 (1907) (Complete) 'First Piano Concerto had received its London premiere... Queens Hall... Evelyn Suart... Henry Wood' at chandos.net, accessed 3 May 2018
  5. ^ Cyril Scott, Composer, Poet and Philosopher, accessed 3 April 2018
  6. ^ a b c Leslie De’Ath, Cyril Scott as Composer, Pianist and Author at musicweb-international.com, accessed 3 April 2018
  7. ^ Music:Cyril Scott Archived 22 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine 'Scherzo, op 25 -dedicated to Evelyn Suart -London: Elkin, 1904', accessed 3 April 2018
  8. ^ Grove's Dictionary of Music and Musicians, 5th ed., 1954