(February 2023) Episode 478 is REBECCA CLARKE. A British and later American composer and violist of the early 20^th century, she was a ground-breaking woman in both professions. She didn’t have a large body of work, and many compositions were discovered after her death which caused renewed interest in her work. She specialized in chamber pieces featuring her viola, which are excellent, as well as several vocal works.

Favourite piece: Sonata for viola and piano

Compared to expectations: ↑

Recommendation: I think you’ll like the chamber works

(February 2023) Episode 476 of the “opus project” is SAMUEL BARBER, one of the best-known American composers of the 20^th century.  Many of you will know him from his “Adagio for Strings” (made famous in the movie Platoon), arguably his most emotionally resonant work. He get some critics’ sneer for being conventional in an era where his peers were emphasizing the opposite, but he does dip his toes into dissonance and tonal experimentation.

Favorite piece: Adagio for String

Favorite piano piece: Piano Sonata

Favorite Opera: Anthony and Cleopatra

Compared to expectations: same

Recommendation: won’t blow your mind, but you also can’t really go wrong

(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

Episode 423 is JUDITH WEIR. A contemporary British composer who serves as the first female Master of the Queen’s Music; for example, she composed the anthem for the Platinum Jubilee. Unlike most contemporaries her style and form are fairly conservative, but I find a lot that is enjoyable.  She has penned several operas and parochial songs; I like the chamber pieces best.

Favourite piece: Music for 247 Strings

Favourite chamber piece: Piano Quartet

Favourite choral piece: Ascending into Heaven

Favourite violin piece: Atlantic Drift

Compared to expectations: ↓

Recommendation: interesting but not captivating

(June 2022) Episode 413 is NKEIRU OKOYE. A contemporary composer mostly of vocal works, including an opera, theatrical pieces and song cycles. A main theme of her works is the African-American experience, both contemporary and historical.  While I’m not a fan of the operatic style, I liked the subject matter as well as the chamber works.

Favorite piece: Harriet Tubman, When I Crossed That Line To Freedom

Favorite chamber piece: Movements for String Quartet

Favorite orchestral piece: Voices Shouting Out

Compared to expectations: ↓

Recommendation: worth a listen