Biography

Caroline Boissier-Butini (1786–1836) was both a player in and a key facilitator of the musical life of Geneva in her day. Her first attempts at musical life were threatened by the political turmoil that shook Geneva at the beginning of the 19th century, and the city lacked any exceptional musical personalities during her formative years, yet the young Caroline Butini managed to develop an exceptional talent, probably mostly self-taught. From childhood, her parents encouraged the little pianist to play in their salon. After her marriage to Auguste Boissier, she went on to develop a career as a composer and concert pianist, performing as much as her social rank would permit: she played only in front of invited audiences, and never in concerts for a paying public.
The music of Caroline Boissier-Butini was arranged around her activity as a pianist (and occasional organist). In terms of style, it is typical of its time, still rooted in classicism but moving away from it to give free rein to personal invention, all the while making frequent reference to popular music from Switzerland and elsewhere.
Memoirs of her travels, especially to Paris (1818, 1831–1832) and London (1818) as well as Bern, Solothurn and Fribourg (1811), give astute descriptions of the contemporary musical life in these cities. 
Pleinpalais, Genève [auteur inconnu] 1787; reproduction avec l’aimable autorisation de la Galerie de Loës.
​Mathias Gabriel Lory (1763–1840). Le manoir de Valeyres-sous-Rances (VD). Propriété privée.

Biography by Irène Minder-Jeanneret 

Publication of Caroline Boissier-Butini's biography (in French) - Slatkine Editions.
​Irène Minder Jeanneret 

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