(December 2022) Episode 455 is ETHEL SMYTH. In addition to the structural reasons that women are almost absent from classical repertoires, the ones who did compose got their works dismissed as not serious. UK-born Ethel Smyth suffered this, but persevered, composing a solid body of varied works – opera, orchestral, chamber, vocal pieces. She never settled on one style but that also makes it interesting. She was also politically active as a feminist, and her “March of the Women” became an anthem for the movement.
Favourite piece: String quartet in E minor
Compared to expectations: same
Recommendation: not ground-breaking but worth a listen
Opus Project 