Journal de Marie Bashkirtseff

Music

Également connu sous : Music

Culture culture/themes Moderate Mis à jour: 2026-02-10

## Thematic Tag: Music

This thematic tag collects diary paragraphs where Marie discusses music — attending concerts, opera, operetta, her own singing and musical studies, and music as emotional experience.

## Marie's Musical Life

Before Marie dedicated herself to painting, music — specifically singing — was her primary artistic pursuit. She studied voice seriously and possessed genuine talent. Even after choosing visual art, music remained a passionate interest: - *Opera attendance: Regular at the Nice opera and Paris theaters - Concert-going: Both as social activity and genuine artistic engagement - Salon musicales: Private musical evenings in aristocratic homes - "La musique"*: In Nice, the afternoon public concerts on the Promenade or in parks, a daily social ritual

## Key Musical References

- *Opera: Verdi (Un ballo in maschera), operetta (Lecocq's Giroflé-Girofla) - "La musique": Daily public concerts in Nice, a social promenade with musical accompaniment - Singing: Marie's own vocal studies and performances - Bach, and other composers*: Classical repertoire encountered in concerts

## Significance

Music serves multiple functions in the diary: aesthetic experience, social setting (the opera box as display), emotional trigger, and measure of cultural sophistication. Marie's abandonment of a potential singing career in favor of painting is one of the diary's key turning points.