Speaker
Prof. Marina Frolova-Walker
Professor, Faculty of Music, University of Cambridge
Histories of Russian music, traditionally concentrating exclusively on composers (mostly male), pass over women’s contribution to musical life or relegate it to the background. In order to bring that contribution back into Russian music historiography, we need to focus on the broader picture of music-making in society, which was impossible without women singers, instrumentalists, female salon hosts and patrons, etc. This paper focuses first on the female pianists who were predominant in amateur music-making during the first half of the 19th century. Secondly, the focus shifts to their successors, who became fully-fledged professionals, forming the majority of institutionalized music teachers in the early 20th century, but also leading those institutions as professors, directors, and owners of music schools.. This change in perspective helps us to see that women were the mainstay, and even the leaders of Russia’s piano-centred musical tradition.
Enquires
Ms. Lily Yau (Tel.: 3943 6510)
