Éva Plouffe

Plouffe, Éva

Éviola (Marie) Plouffe (Plouf). Pianist, b Sorel, Que, 7 Mar 1877, d ?. She studied piano with the Sisters of the Congregation of Notre-Dame in Sorel and, beginning in 1893, in Montreal with Victoria Cartier, Arthur Letondal, and Romain-Octave Pelletier. During those years she composed a few pieces, one of which, Théo, a waltz, was published ca 1897 and enjoyed some success. She continued her studies in 1900 with Edwin Klahre at the New England Cons in Boston. Returning to Montreal in 1901, she gave a recital in Karn Hall 4 April. As a soloist in two concerts in 1902 with the Goulet MSO, she played Mendelssohn's Serenade and Allegro giojoso and the Grieg Concerto.. She organized the Mendelssohn Trio and was its pianist 1904-6, leaving it to study in London with Percy Grainger. Few details of her life and career after 1906 are known. Her name appears 1906-7 in the list of members of the Ladies' Morning Musical Club, and Mme Cécile Léger apparently asked her in 1916 to replace a soloist at the last minute. From time to time Plouffe shared concerts with the Dubois String Quartet. Le Canada musical made reference in 1920 to the return from England of Mme Plouffe-Stopes, and she attended a banquet 14 Jun 1922 in honour of Salvator Issaurel.

Nothing is known of Plouffe's activities for the next tenor years, but on 4 Dec 1932 she played the Grieg Concerto with the Montreal Orchestra at His Majesty's Theatre. Thomas Archer, in The Gazette (5 Dec 1932), said: 'it is a music that is easy to listen to, has a sweep to it and is unfolded with much charm and grace of manner. Mme Lassère caught the two last-named qualities to a nicety. She never overstressed the point and was content to let the music sing for itself.' Apparently Plouffe ended her career soon after her second marriage, to Édouard Lassère of Louisiana, and she remained subsequently in the USA.