WKO x Raphaela Gromes - Femmes

Raphaela Gromes is far more than one of the most interesting cellists of the young generation. She dedicates a good part of her work to forgotten female composers - with her CD "Femmes" and the accompanying book by the cellist herself. Raphaela Gromes is far more than one of the most interesting cellists of the young generation. She dedicates a good part of her work to forgotten female composers. A CD titled "Femmes" featuring works by 23 female composers was released in 2023, and the next one will be released in 2025, coinciding with a thematically related book by the cellist herself. The two composers in our program, Emilie Mayer and Marie Jaëll, are certainly connected by the fact that both were highly gifted artists in a time when that was an absolute rarity for women. They were successful during their lifetimes - Emilie Mayer was praised as "the female Beethoven" - but soon fell into obscurity. The captivating cello concerto by Marie Jaëll was only recently rediscovered and has already been performed multiple times by Raphaela Gromes. Camille Saint-Saëns was one of Marie Jaëll's teachers and greatly appreciated her work. His dazzling 1st Cello Concerto demands the highest virtuosity from the performer. The Symphony in C major is an early work by George Bizet and was never performed during his lifetime. It was only in the 20th century that this youthful masterpiece was rediscovered and received its well-deserved place in the repertoire.