On the Programme

Liza Lehmann [1862 – 1918]
From: Bird Songs, Five songs for voice and piano
The Woodpigeon
The Yellowhammer
The Wren

Josephine Caroline Lang [1815 – 1880]
Schon wieder bin ich fortgerissen
Sie liebt mich
Auf dem See in tausend Sternen
Am Flusse

Emilie Mayer [1812 – 1883]
String Quartet No. 1 in G minor op. 14

Ethel Smyth [1858 – 1944]
Variations on „Bonny Sweet Robin“ for flute, viola, piano

Sofia Gubaidulina [*1931]
5 Etudes for harp, percussion, bass
I. Largo
II. Allegretto
III. Adagio
IV. Allegro disperato
V. Andante

Louise Farrenc [1804 – 1875]
Sextet for piano and woodwind quintet in C minor, op. 40
Allegro

Why were and are the works of women composers so much less visible than those of their male colleagues? The programme brings together works by Liza Lehmann, the first president of the Society of Women Musicians, the women's rights activist and suffragette Ethel Smyth and Emilie Mayer, known as the "female Beethoven". The accompanying moderation outlines the circumstances of their lives and uses events and anecdotes to show how artistically creative women reacted to social boundaries.


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With their chamber music series, the musicians of the Deutsche Oper Berlin Orchestra fulfil a wish: inspired by productions from the opera programme, they put together concert programmes with works that are close to their hearts. This time the concert will take place in the open atmosphere of the foyer.