Tchaikovsky
www.tchaikovsky-research.net

Marie de Benardaky (1855–1913), photographed by Félix Nadar (1820–1910)

Marie de Benardaky

Russian amateur singer and society hostess (b. 1855; d. 1913), born Maria Pavlovna Leibrock (Мария Павловна Лейброк, Marija Pavlovna Lejbrok, Mariya Pavlovna Leibrock); known after her marriage as Marie de Benardaky.

After studying at the Saint Petersburg Conservatory, Marie married Russian state counsellor Nikolai Dmitrievich Benardaki (1838–1909; known outside Russia as Nicolas de Benardaky) in Saint Petersburg on 13/25 July 1873. The couple's elder daughter, also called Marie (1874–1949), was later immortalised as the object of Marcel Proust's affections. Marie and Nicolas also had a younger daughter, Hélène (b. 1875).

Tchaikovsky conducted a concert in the Benardakys' home at 65 Rue de Chaillot, Paris, on 28 February 1888 [N.S.], in which Marie de Benardaky herself sang in an orchestral arrangement of the song Does the Day Reign?—No. 6 of the Seven Romances, Op. 47—which had been made specially by the composer at her request.

Tchaikovsky's correspondence with Marie de Benardaky:

• 2 letters from Tchaikovsky to Marie de Benardaky have survived, dating from 1888.