The Brontë siblings’ musical experience

summary
Charlotte:
 Wasn’t allowed to read sheet music because it might hurt her eyesight
 Saw Rossini’s ‘The Barber of Seville’ opera in London with Anne when she
was 22
Branwell:
 Played flute from an early age
 Was taught piano to train on a keyboard for the church organ his father
funded
 Played as the church organist
Emily:
 Was enthusiastic about and proficient in piano
 Preferred to play more complex, emotional pieces from composers like Liszt
and Beethoven
 Likely attended a concert of Franz Liszt, one of her favourite composers,
when she was 23
Anne:
 Also enthusiastic and proficient at piano
 Preferred lighter, happier pieces by composers like Rossini and Mozart
 Sang also, her voice was described by Ellen Nussey as “weak, but very
sweet in tone”
 Saw Rossini’s ‘The Barber of Seville’ opera in London with Charlotte when
she was 18