A new collection of original classical music by underrecognized women composers, some pieces “waiting over a century to be heard,” comes to us from the acclaimed cellist Juliana Soltis, with pianist Ruoting Li.
“American Woman” is a recording of works by composers who were known in their own time, but whose legacies were obscured by the prejudices of male-dominated classical music institutions. With intimate and expressive cello and piano duo performances, “American Woman” places these composers back in their well-deserved spotlight.
On Monday, cellist Juliana Soltis joined “City Lights” host Lois Reitzes via Riverside to discuss more about rediscovering these near-forgotten creative artists.
“My interest in women composers really goes back to my earliest days as a cellist,” says Soltis. “At 11 years old, I remember thinking, ‘no great women composers,’ really? I don’t believe it for a second.”
That suspicion led Soltis to stumble upon composers like Dorothy Rudd Moore, Helen Crane and Amy Beach, all three of whom are featured on the album.
