Thursday Heritage Concert: Dedication

The Francis-Lee Duo, (Charlotte Francis, violin, and Gemma Lee, piano) present a programme featuring the works of two powerful women composers from the 19th century who were dedicated to their craft and to overcoming the challenges they experienced as women in a male dominated industry.

After moving to Düsseldorf in early 1853, Clara Schumann produced several works, among them the Three Romances for violin and piano, Op. 22.for violin and piano. She dedicated this work to violinist Joseph Joachim, which was later performed for King George V of Hanover. Perhaps the earliest and most prominent American woman composer, Amy Beach was a leading representative of the late 19th-century Romantic style and her works were characterized by technical mastery, spontaneity, and originality. Francis-Lee Duo perform her richly lyrical and emotional Sonata for violin and piano, Op. 34 - one of her most important works.