This November, we celebrate three inspiring women: soprano Maria Callas, composer and pianist Fanny Hensel, and composer, pianist, and organist Emma Lou Diemer.
November 1, 1954: The American Operatic Debut of Maria Callas
Greek-American soprano Maria Callas personified the “diva” and held many successful roles in Italy and South America before her American debut as Norma in Chicago in 1954. Her role in Bellini’s opera augmented the reputation of the newly-established Lyric Opera of Chicago, and garnered high praise from reviewers such as this acclaim from Musical America: “She molds a line as deftly as she tosses off cruelly difficult ornamentations in the highest register […]. It was a great night for Chicago […]. It may prove an even greater night for opera in America.” – Musical America.1
November 14, 1805: Birth of Fanny Hensel
A gifted composer and performer, Fanny Hensel spent much of her life in the shadow of her younger brother, Felix Mendelssohn. Her compositions for piano number over 125, and many are beginning to receive the recognition they deserve. Many of Hensel’s works have been featured in Piano Magazine and on PianoInspires.com, including:
November 24, 1927: Birth of Emma Lou Diemer
Diemer was an American composer of pedagogical and advanced works. Her compositions span myriad genres, and often include keyboard instruments besides the piano, including the organ and carillon. Her works vary wildly in style and sparkle with personality, as did Diemer herself.
In an interview with Bruce Duffie in 1988, Diemer said:
“I’d rather compose than eat hot fudge sundaes, particularly if it’s going well, and if you think you have something worthwhile to say.”2
Two of Diemer’s works for intermediate solo piano have been featured on PianoInspires.com:
Sources
- Davis, Ronald. Opera in Chicago. New York: Appleton Century and Croft, 1965.
- Diemer, Emma Lou, interview by Duffie, Bruce, bruceduffie.com, 1988. https://www.bruceduffie.com/diemer.html.
OTHER RESOURCES YOU MIGHT ENJOY:
- WEBINAR: Fanny Hensel: Song for Piano in B Minor, Op. 8, No. 1 with Choongha Nam
- MICROCOURSE: Romantic Era Music by Women Composers (from Hidden Gems: Four Centuries of Piano Music by Women Composers)
- PIANO MAGAZINE ARTICLE: DIGITAL-ONLY CONTENT: Music for the Intermediate Pianist by Eight Women Composers by Nicholas Phillips
- VIDEO: Diemer: Echo Dream by Christie Sowby
- MICROCOURSE: 20th- and 21st-Century Music by Women Composers (from Hidden Gems: Four Centuries of Piano Music by Women Composers)