Here is a discussion by conductor James Blachly about his experience conducting the U.S. premiere of Dame Ethel Smyth’s “The Prison.” This article is from March 2018, but still an interesting read! You may access the article here.
All posts by Liane Curtis
Reviving Ethel Smyth’s Fête Galante, a talk with Director Odaline de la Martinez
Odaline de la Martinez has conducted the debut recording of Ethel Smyth’s Fête Galante with Retrospect Opera. She tells CM about the process of reviving this work. You may read the entire article here.
Check out our Works List!
Feel free to browse our Works list! The list of works and places to purchase or access the works was compiled by Amy Zigler.
Check out our Discography!
Feel free to browse our Discography! The list of recordings was compiled by Amy Zigler. Please let us know if there are any commercial recordings available that are not included in our Discography.
Check out our Ethel Smyth biography!
Our Ethel Smyth biography is now available!
Ethel Smyth scholar Amy Zigler, Ph.D. has given us a short and concise overview of Smyth’s music and life! Amy is almost exclusively responsible for the content of this website, and in her own words:
It is the goal of this website to bring attention to Smyth’s body of work and to encourage scholars and music lovers to explore her life and music. Listings of performances and reviews will be added periodically, a timeline of events is forthcoming, and a working bibliography will be posted soon. If you know of an upcoming performance or wish to have your performance posted, please do let us know. Only by hearing her music will her place in music history be determined.
Kickstarter Campaign for Recording Smyth’s “The Prison”
Composed in 1930, The Prison is Smyth’s last large-scale work, scored for two soloists (portraying The Prisoner and his Soul), chorus, and orchestra. At 75 minutes, it is similar in length to the vocal symphonies of Mahler, but her musical language is truly unique; this work represents the full maturity of her style after more than 40 years of composing. Please help by supporting this Kickstarter campaign through Dec 2, 2018!
Enjoy an evening of choral and chamber works composed by some sophisticated FIRST LADIES and performed by Cappella Clausura!
Enjoy an evening of choral and chamber works composed by some sophisticated FIRST LADIES who pursued careers as composers despite obstructions galore, and were first in their pursuits. Works by Amy Beach, Rebecca Clarke, Ethel Smyth, Marianna von Martines, Francesca Caccini and Patricia Van Ness will be performed by Cappella Clausura, Inc. and string quartet under the direction of Amelia LeClair! The concerts will also feature a concert talk with renowned musicologist Dr. Liane Curtis, president of Women’s Philharmonic Advocacy (www.wophil.org) and the Rebecca Clarke Society (www.rebeccaclarke.org)
Concerts:
- 8PM Saturday, Oct 20 at Eliot Church Newton (474 Centre St, Newton)
- 4PM Sunday, Oct 21 at Lindsey Chapel Boston (15 Newbury St. Boston). For more info and tickets, please visit https://www.clausura.org/beach-clarke-caccini.
Program:
- Amy Beach: Quartet for Strings (In One Movement), Op. 89 (1929) & Kyrie from Grand Mass in E-flat, Op. 5 (1892) arr. for string quartet and chorus by Women’s Philharmonic Advocacy Publications Director, Chris A. Trotman. Available from https://www.amybeach.org/music/publications/. Chris will be attending both concerts!
- Rebecca Clarke: Comodo e Amabile (1924) for string quartet & He That Dwelleth (1921) for double choir a cappella
- Marianna von Martines: Miserere (1768) for chorus and continuo
- Francesca Caccini: Duets (1618) for voices and continuo
- Ethel Smyth: Kyrie from Mass in D (1891) arr. by Amelia LeClair for string quartet and chorus
- Patricia Van Ness: Premiere of new work for string quartet and soprano
Check out the first few images in our Photo Gallery!
Feel free to browse the first few images in our Photo Gallery! You may read about each image by following the instructions located at the top of the Photo Gallery page.