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Command Performance: Music for an Empress

Academy of Ancient Music

Maria Theresa

The Academy of Ancient Music travels to the Vienna of Empress Maria Theresa – where genius paid court, and music flourished in magnificent (and unexpected) new ways.

They called her the 'mother-in-law of Europe', but as monarch, war-leader, diplomat and patron of the arts, the Empress Maria Theresa of Austria was one or the most extraordinary rulers in European history. Tonight, the Academy of Ancient Music pays homage: recreating an era of splendour, innovation and music without limits.

Some of the names need no introduction – and Gluck, Haydn and the young Mozart were just some of the stars who shone around Maria Theresa’s throne. But just as the Empress herself defied convention, so the Academy of Ancient Music will explore some more neglected names too: Maria Teresa Agnesi and Marianna Martinez are composers of striking originality and inspiration who flourished during the reign of a truly exceptional woman.

This performance will finish at approximately 9.20pm, including a 20-minute interval

The performance of works by Maria Teresa Agnesi and Marianna Martinez is made possible with funding from the ABO Trust’s Sirens programme, a ten year initiative to support the performance and promotion of music by historical women composers.

 

Pre-concert talk

6.30pm, Milton Court Concert Hall

Free

Milton Court Concert Hall