Vera Franceschi (May 5, 1926 – July 12, 1966) was an Italian American pianist who had a prolific career during the 1950s.
The daughter of Italian parents (both of Tuscan origin), she was born in San Francisco, California. She began her studies in the United States; but in 1936 moved with her family to Rome, Italy.
After World War II, she perfected her training at the Manhattan School of Music in New York, studying with Harold Bauer and Carl Friedberg, and in 1948 she made her debut with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Pierre Monteux. She became one of the most acclaimed interpreters of Chopin during those years. In the early 1950s, she signed with RCA and then Victrola, and recorded many albums performing the compositions of the Polish composer. During the same time, she met the tenor Daniele Barioni, whom she married on October 28, 1957 in New York and with whom she had a son in 1958. He was named Giulio Barioni.
