RENIE Henriette

It was at the age of 5, after hearing Hasselmans in concert, that Henriette Renié announced that she wanted to play the harp. However, being too small, she had to wait until the age of 8 to begin studying it. Her progress was exceptional. Passing the Conservatory competition at the age of 10, the entire jury voted that she receive a first prize, but the director disagreed, preferring that she not be left without instruction after only two years of study. She obtained her first prize the following year. She continued to study with Hasselmans before taking harmony classes at 13. She took courses in fugue and composition and encouraged by Jules Massenet, Ambroise Thomas and Théodore Dubois, decided to compose.
The Concerts Lamoureux premiered her Concerto in C minor on March 2, 1901 by. This was a major triumph for her as both composer and performer, but also for the harp.
She was the first harpist to play "Les Danses sacrées et profanes" by Claude Debussy. Written for chromatic harp, Henriette Renié transcribed them for pedal harp.
Her final concert was held at the Conservatory concert hall in March 1944, bringing her great success before Cortot, Maurice Maréchal, Lubin or Dussane.
Henriette Renié died on March 1, 1956, leaving those who knew her with unforgettable memories.