Sohy / Mendelssohn

On this International Women's Rights Day, the musicians of the Orchestre National de Lyon do justice to two female composers whose only fault was to be born in eras reluctant to give them a voice. Fanny Mendelssohn's Trio is feverish and virtuosic, Charlotte Sohy's more lyrical and intimate. But in both cases, the talent is immense.

Eighty years separate Fanny Mendelssohn and Charlotte Sohy, at the two extremes of the Romantic period. But they share the same destiny, that of women prevented from realizing their artistic dreams. Fanny Mendelssohn was forbidden by her father to follow any path other than that of a mother, even though it was generally agreed that her musical gifts were as good as those of her brother Felix. Charlotte Sohy censored herself, keeping music as a hobby and raising her seven children despite the encouragement of a musician husband fascinated by her talent. Little by little, these two composers are regaining their place in music history, and today we wonder how we could have gone all these decades without listening to them.

Running time: 1 hour with no intermission.