Camille Pleyel

Who is Camille Pleyel?

Joseph Etienne Camille Pleyel was a French virtuoso pianist, publisher, and owner of Signature Pleyel pianos. He also ran a concert hall, the Salle Pleyel, where Chopin played the first and last of his concerts in Paris.

The youngest son of Ignace Joseph Pleyel, he studied with Jan Dussek. He became a partner of his father in 1815 and owner of the firm after the death of him. His salons hosted the greatest talents of his day in France. Pleyel provided pianos to Frédéric Chopin.

Pleyel's wife, Marie-Felicite-Denise née Moke, was also an accomplished pianist that studied under Friedrich Kalkbrenner. Before their marriage, Marie's mother called off her engagement with Hector Berlioz, inspiring Berlioz to elaborately plan to kill Marie, her mother, and Camille using two stolen double-barreled pistols, though he did not carry through with his plan. Chopin's Nocturnes Op. 9 are dedicated to "Madame Camille Pleyel". Camille and Marie separated after 4 years of marriage on account of her "multiple infidelities", and she went on to become a professor of piano at the conservatory in Brussels in 1848.