The inclusion of women composers “in the day-to-day repertoire of our orchestras, ensembles, and choirs has recently emerged as one of the pressing issues of the day,” writes David Gordon Duke in last Wednesday’s (8/29) Vancouver Sun (Canada). “Vancouver, I’m pleased to say, is in the forefront of bringing the forgotten, neglected and just plain ignored women, past and present, to our classical audiences. In a few days … conductor Anne Bonnycastle [will present her fourth] Women Composers orchestral concert…. Ticket proceeds go to the Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre; an orchestra drawn from members of the VSO, the Vancouver Opera Orchestra and top freelancers donates its time and expertise… Jocelyn Morlock in her successful VSO tenure as composer-in-residence continues a Vancouver tradition…. Programming at both the VSO’s New Music Festival and the Vancouver Sun Symphony at the Annex concerts has achieved close to gender parity…. Outgoing VSO music director Bramwell Tovey was a committed stalwart of music by contemporary women.… For his first BBC Proms concert a few weeks ago, [incoming Vancouver Symphony Music Director Otto] Tausk included a work by Dame Ethel Smyth. And next spring, Vancouver audiences will hear two short works by the fabulously talented Lili Boulanger.”
Posted September 5, 2018
