These works should know all fans of classical music!

Under the motto "This music is unheard and heard", the FemaleClassics classical music festival will be held in Zurich for the first time in June. The festival programs exclusively works by female composers, because their music is heard far too rarely. To get you started listening right away, Meredith Kuliew, the festival's artistic director and viola teacher at Instrumentor, recommends five great orchestral works for us to listen to, along with her own favorite works for violin and viola.

By Fanny Hensel née Mendelssohn the "Overture in C": The highly talented pianist, composer and conductor has written 450 (!) works. Her "Overture in C" is her only work for orchestra alone and impresses with its great sound palette and wonderful melodies!

From Florence Price the "1st Symphony in E minor": The American composer achieved her breakthrough already during her lifetime and was already performed by professional orchestras in the USA in 1932. In her first symphony, she achieves a stroke of genius with "Juba Dance": she skillfully mixes symphonic orchestral sounds with rhythms and sounds far removed from classical music, thus creating a unique masterpiece!

By Ethel Smyth "The Wreckers - Ouverture": Who loves it when the music tells a big story, will find it here. Somber sounds duel with fun melodies to create images. The emancipated composer and writer wrote fantastic operas, which belong on the very big stages!

By Emilie Mayer the "Symphony in E minor": highly praised by critics, the German composer managed to establish herself among her contemporaries already in the 19th century. During her lifetime, she was famous throughout Europe and was nicknamed "the female Beethoven". Once you have heard her successful first symphony, you will certainly enjoy continuing with her symphonies No. 2, 3, 4 and 5!

By Julia Perry "A Short Piece for Orchestra": The intense lyrical passages are just as captivating in this piece as the energetic loud scenes. Several exciting works by Perry have survived, immediately captivating listeners with their unique tonal language. In addition to composition, the talented composer also studied conducting, played the piano, violin and sang.

• By Chiquinha Gonzaga: "Ballada" for violin and piano
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• By Mel Bonis: "Allegretto" and "Andante religioso" for violin and piano
• By Maria Theresa of Paradis: "Sicilienne" for violin and piano
• From Florence Price: "Adoration", "Elfentanz" or nevertheless the "Violin Concerto No.2"?
• By Amanda Röntgen-Maier: "The Violin Concerto in D minor" or first start with the "6 Pieces for Violin and Piano"?
• From Amy Beach: "The Romance Op. 23" for violin and piano
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• From Louise Adolpha Le Beau: "Three Pieces op. 26" for viola and piano
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• By Lilian Fuchs: "15 Characteristic Studies", "16 Fantasy Etudes"
• By Fernande Decruck: "The Sonata en Ut#"

By the way, May 14, 2022 marked the 175th anniversary of the death of Fanny Hensel née Mendelssohn. - So how about a round of Fanny Hensel?

Viola lessons on Instrumentor

Violin lessons on Instrumentor