She was a true renaissance woman – before there was even a Renaissance!

Hildegard von Bingen, the 12th century abbess, mystic, visionary, philosopher, scientist, medical theorist, artist, writer, poet, composer, and saint, was a pioneer who excelled in so many fields, it’s a wonder she wasn’t burned at the stake. Where ever did she come from, and why did she have no successors?*

We’ll celebrate this extraordinary figure this afternoon on The Classical Network, as I continue to highlight the work of female composers, a month-long exploration precipitated by the Clara Schumann bicentennial. Tune in to experience music by Hildegard, interleaved with tributes by contemporary composers Aaron Jay Kernis and Christopher Theofanidis. The rest of the afternoon’s playlist will consist entirely of works by women.

First, I hope you’ll join me for today’s Noontime Concert. Mezzo-soprano Chrystal E. Williams and pianist Laurent Philippe will perform songs by Robert Schumann, Federico Garcia Lorca, Benjamin Britten, George Gershwin, Jerome Kern, Harry T. Burleigh, and Hall Johnson.

The concert was recorded this past May in Merkin Hall at Kaufman Music Center, 129 West 67th Street, in New York City. Merkin’s Tuesday Matinees series presents a new generation of critically acclaimed performers in a concert hall admired for its near-perfect acoustics. To learn more about this season’s offerings, visit kaufmanmusiccenter.org.

Then belly up to the bar for Hildegard’s Feast Day. The table is set for great music, from 12 to 4 p.m. EDT, on WWFM – The Classical Network and wwfm.org.

*Interestingly, in reading up on Hildegard, I happened to come across a history of Kassia, a Byzantine abbess and composer who flourished three centuries earlier!

https://blogs.bl.uk/digitisedmanuscripts/2016/03/kassia.html