Did you know that throughout the 19th century and well into the 20th it was considered a ‘biological impossibility’ for women to sustain the kind of abstract thought required for serious musical composition? Or that in the 1910s women in London could be compelled to sit separately from men in concert halls, sometimes even denied entry if not in academic dress? How about the fact that the Halle Orchestra summarily dismissed all its female members in 1920? Or that from 1952 to 1962 only eight works by women were performed at the Proms? For a bonus point, can you name...
Already a subscriber? Log in
Keep reading with a free trial
Get your first month free when you subscribe. After that it’s just £1 a week for full website and app access. There’s no commitment, you can cancel any time.
Offer ends in:
${days} days ${hours} hrs ${minutes} mins ${seconds} secs
Or
Comments
Ends tonight:
10 weeks of unlimited digital access for £1
Join the conversation with other Spectator readers. Subscribe to leave a comment.
CLAIM OFFERGet 10 weeks of online and app access for just £1. That's a saving of more than 80% off the usual rate.
Already a subscriber? Log in