Miranda Wilson and Rachel Thomson Photo: WCMT
Louise Farrenc (1804-1875) was a member of France’s 19th century musical elite. As one of very few women professors at the Paris Conservatoire, she composed many chamber and symphonic works; she also co-owned a successful music printing press.
Farrenc’s signature style, like those of her teachers Moscheles, Hummel and Reicha, was influenced by Viennese classicism. Her compositional language and structures look back to a classical past more than forward to a romantic future: a first movement in a traditional sonata-allegro form is followed by a pastoral slow movement and a dashing rondo finale.
Farrenc’s compositions fell into obscurity after her death, but thanks to modern re-printings of her works by the feminist press Hildegard Publishing she is now back in fashion.
(Notes by Miranda Wilson)
A Wellington Chamber Music Trust Concert
Recorded on 15 July 2018 in St Andrew's on The Terrace, Wellington by RNZ
Producer: David McCaw
Engineer: Darryl Stack
