Feminine Fusion

Sept 18 – Oct 4, 2019: Walking in Her Own Shoes

by Diane Jones

September 28, 2019

Odaline de la Martinez
First woman to conduct at the BBC Proms

“Between saying and doing, many a pair of shoes is worn out.”  – Iris Murdoch

It’s tough to be a groundbreaker.  To be the first to achieve something.  It means you’ve had to walk your own path, without the benefit of drawing on the experience of others.  The first woman to conduct an orchestra, the first woman to win a prize or a fellowship.  What is fascinating is not so much what they achieved, but how they did it.  For some, they pushed and fought, demanding their due.  For others, it is just a by-product of being focused on their art – and being good at what they do.  Today we’re going to hear music from several women who were “the first.”

“Walking in Her Own Shoes”

Louise Farrenc:  Etude
Margot Dilmaghani, piano
“Celebration!”
Independent Label

Elisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre:  Céphale et Procris, ballet music
Francis Conover Fitch & Peter Sykes, harpsichords
“Protégée of the Sun King”
Centaur 2781

Ruth Crawford Seeger:  String Quartet 1931 (excerpt)
Arditti Quartet
“Quartet 1931”
Gramavision 79440

Dame Ethel Smyth:  Concerto for Violin, Horn & Orchestra (excerpt)
Sophie Langdon, violin; Richard Watkins, horn
BBC Orchestra, Odaline de la Martinez, conductor
“Smyth: Serenade in D & Concerto for violin, horn & orchestra”
Chandos 9449

Vasily Kalinnikov:  Symphony No. 1 (excerpt)
Symphony Orchestra of Russia; Veronika Dudarova, conductor
“Kalinnikov: Symphony No. 1 & 2”
Olympia 511

Johann Georg Albrechtsberger:  Partita in F Major (excerpt)
Anna Lelkes, harp
Gyor Philharmonic Orchestra; Janos Sandor, conductor
“Albrechtsberger: Organ Concerto – Partita – Hoffmeister: Flute Concerto”
Hungaroton 061

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Feminine Fusion highlights the roles of women in classical music.  Host Diane Jones brings you stories and music of the women who create, perform, and inspire.  Produced in the studios at WCNY-FM.