Classical Era – Women Composers

Although the best-known composers from the classical era were men, there were also a number of accomplished women who composed fine music, despite social restrictions and problems getting their music published.  These include Louise Farrenc, Maria Szymanowska, Marianna Martines, Anne-Louise Brillon de Jouy and Maria Hester Park.

Louise Ferrenc 

Pursuing a musical career was no easy matter for women in the nineteenth century, but Louise Farrenc’s character and determination resulted in her becoming a respected part of the European scene, an outstanding composer and the first ever female senior professor of piano at the Paris Conservatoire. 

Maria Szymanowska  

As a young pianist Maria Szymanowska proved a sensation in Warsaw's salons, before moving to Paris where her fame spread. She was greatly admired by her contemporaries, who included Beethoven, Cherubini, Field and Tamasek. 

Marianna Martines

During her lifetime Marianna Martines was a highly regarded composer.  She held weekly musical soirees that were attended by the best composers of the day, including Mozart. she exercised a considerable influence on Vienna’s music life. The cantata “Dixit Dominus” after Psalm 110 that is included on this CD, was like this composer’s visiting card. She applied for admission to the Accademia Filarmonica di Bologna with it and became the first woman ever to be accepted to this elite circle of internationally renowned musicians. 

Anne-Louise Brillon de Jouy

The thirteen sonatas on this première recording represent the complete music for solo piano by the Parisian keyboardist and composer Anne-Louise Brillon de Jouy, a musician much celebrated in her day and greatly admired by her peers including composers such as Luigi Boccherini. 

Maria Teresa Agnesi

This selection of seven arias from the opera Sofonisba by the Milanese composer Maria Teresa Agnesi (1720-1795) is one of a small number of recordings of music by a composer who was highly respected in her time. Even today, she remains in the shadow of her more famous older sister, Maria Gaetana (1718-1799), a mathematician who was celebrated throughout Europe. Even after her marriage, she continued to be active musical circles and composed three operas along with serenatas and produced solo and concerted keyboard music.