This
month, Clef Notes is looking at music by women composers and this week, we
explore the life and work of English composer Ethel Smyth. Known for her
chamber music, orchestral works, vocal scores, and opera, Ethel Smyth was a
strong woman who advocated for women’s rights and pursued a career in music
during a time when such a task wasn’t so easy for a woman. Today, let’s look at
one of her most successful operas, The
Wreckers.
Known
as Strandrecht at the time of its
premiere in Leipzig in 1906, The Wreckers
contained a libretto originally written in French and later translated for
its German premiere. The production was well-received but after the conductor
refused to compromise on the cuts he made to Ethel’s score, she took her score and left Leipzig. The opera was later performed in London. It is said that Smyth
used Wagner and Sullivan as inspiration for her work. What do you think?
