On the anniversary of Pauline Viardot's birth, the crowdfunding campaign to bring and present the "Memorabilia García" is drawing to a close. This collection, which has remained in the family bosom, highlights Pauline García-Viardot's connections with many of the great names of her time: friends, mentors, disciples and admirers. A sketchbook created by Pauline contains several drawings of these personalities, including George Sand and Frédéric Chopin. The Memorabilia also includes some little-known originals, such as a little-known sketch on the theme of Italian theatre (photo below). Another priceless item is an original signed colour sketch by Pauline, who was 15 at the time. All these items bear witness to the polymathy of this immense artist, who excelled in singing, composing, acting, teaching and foreign languages.

Bringing the Villa Viardot back to life

The CEM has been working for years to pay tribute to all these aspects of the artist's life. The current campaign to transport and present the "Memorabilia García" to the public is part of this. Since Jorge Chaminé, founding chairman of the CEM, discovered the Domaine des Frênes in Bougival and the Villa Viardot, numerous events have been organised until the villa was closed for security reasons in the mid-2010s. Festivals, concerts and masterclasses, led in particular by the great Teresa Berganza, have brought the villa back to life. Jorge Chaminé, along with the CEM, led the campaign to save the Villa Viardot. The endangered monument has finally been saved thanks to the efforts of a number of private, local and government players, and will be re-inaugurated next September.

Teresa Berganza during one of her masterclasses at the Villa Viardot

Pauline García-Viardot garden inaugurated in Paris

Outside the walls of the Villa, the CEM, under the impetus of its founding chairman, is involved in a number of initiatives. This is particularly true in 2021, the year of the bicentenary of Pauline's birth, the high point of this cultural and heritage initiative. On 15 July 2021, the Pauline García-Viardot Garden was inaugurated in Paris, the birthplace of the musician-architect, following Jorge Chaminé's proposal to the City of Paris a few months earlier. It is a green space bordering the municipal library at 26 rue Chaptal in the 9th arrondissement. As part of a series of educational initiatives carried out in partnership with the Paris education authority, the CEM's founder and president visited local schools to talk to primary and secondary school pupils about Pauline's memory.

Finally, several major events are co-organised or organised in partnership with the CEM in France and Europe. These include "A day with Pauline García-Viardot at the Opéra Comique" and the Pauline García-Viardot concert symposium at the Institut de France with France Mémoire. One of the aims of the CEM is to continue this work of remembrance in Bougival, France and Europe of the immense legacy passed on by Pauline García-Viardot.

To find out more and contribute to the crowdfunding campaign, click here.

On the anniversary of Pauline Viardot's birth, the crowdfunding campaign to bring and present the "Memorabilia García" is drawing to a close. This collection, which has remained in the family bosom, highlights Pauline García-Viardot's connections with many of the great names of her time: friends, mentors, disciples and admirers. A sketchbook created by Pauline contains several drawings of these personalities, including George Sand and Frédéric Chopin. The Memorabilia also includes some little-known originals, such as a little-known sketch on the theme of Italian theatre (photo below). Another priceless item is an original signed colour sketch by Pauline, who was 15 at the time. All these items bear witness to the polymathy of this immense artist, who excelled in singing, composing, acting, teaching and foreign languages.

Bringing the Villa Viardot back to life

The CEM has been working for years to pay tribute to all these aspects of the artist's life. The current campaign to transport and present the "Memorabilia García" to the public is part of this. Since Jorge Chaminé, founding chairman of the CEM, discovered the Domaine des Frênes in Bougival and the Villa Viardot, numerous events have been organised until the villa was closed for security reasons in the mid-2010s. Festivals, concerts and masterclasses, led in particular by the great Teresa Berganza, have brought the villa back to life. Jorge Chaminé, along with the CEM, led the campaign to save the Villa Viardot. The endangered monument has finally been saved thanks to the efforts of a number of private, local and government players, and will be re-inaugurated next September.

Teresa Berganza during one of her masterclasses at the Villa Viardot

Pauline García-Viardot garden inaugurated in Paris

Outside the walls of the Villa, the CEM, under the impetus of its founding chairman, is involved in a number of initiatives. This is particularly true in 2021, the year of the bicentenary of Pauline's birth, the high point of this cultural and heritage initiative. On 15 July 2021, the Pauline García-Viardot Garden was inaugurated in Paris, the birthplace of the musician-architect, following Jorge Chaminé's proposal to the City of Paris a few months earlier. It is a green space bordering the municipal library at 26 rue Chaptal in the 9th arrondissement. As part of a series of educational initiatives carried out in partnership with the Paris education authority, the CEM's founder and president visited local schools to talk to primary and secondary school pupils about Pauline's memory.

Finally, several major events are co-organised or organised in partnership with the CEM in France and Europe. These include "A day with Pauline García-Viardot at the Opéra Comique" and the Pauline García-Viardot concert symposium at the Institut de France with France Mémoire. One of the aims of the CEM is to continue this work of remembrance in Bougival, France and Europe of the immense legacy passed on by Pauline García-Viardot.

To find out more and contribute to the crowdfunding campaign, click here.