5. Symphony Concert

The Croatian composer Dora Pejačević was a bridge between worlds. Born into an aristocratic family, her drive for independence and her fascination with the artistic movements of the fin de siècle led her to study abroad. During World War I, she served as a nurse in her homeland. Even in those dark times, music remained her refuge. When two movements of her Symphony in F-sharp minor, completed in 1918, were to be performed at the Vienna Musikverein, the program concealed the fact that the work had been written by a woman – a scandal by today’s standards. Yet Pejačević’s talent prevailed: her symphony was met with thunderous applause. The French composer Lili Boulanger also made her mark in the male-dominated musical world of the 19th century. At just 19 years old, she became the first woman to win the coveted Prix de Rome. Due to a chronic illness, she passed away at the age of 24. Her contemporary Maurice Ravel composed his around the turn of the century, inspired by the storyteller from . The song cycle will be performed by Ida Ränzlöv, a member of the Staatsoper Stuttgart ensemble, under the direction of Tianyi Lu, who already impressed audiences with her debut in the 2024/25 season.