FEMINALE Festival 2025
The Feminale enters its third round – and once again puts female composers at the center of the action. For four days, the HfMT Hamburg will be transformed into a stage for music by women that wants to be heard, played and celebrated.
Making female composers visible
Why are so few works by female composers known? Why do their names hardly ever appear in concert programs? The Feminale sets an example – against forgetting and for diversity. The festival wants to give female composers space, bring their music to life and make it a permanent fixture in the repertoire of the next generation.
Variety meets quality
Classical music meets jazz, vocal ensembles meet orchestras, contemporary sounds meet historical works. The program showcases the entire spectrum of female composers – interpreted by students, teachers and alumni of the university. Performers include the university orchestra, the chamber choir, the HfMT Big Band and young ensembles such as the Alsterspatzen and the Hamburg Boys’ Choir.
The program at a glance
| date | Time of day | The event | Event description | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday, 23.04.2025 | 7:30 pm | Feminale Opening Night | Opening with works by Anna Amalie von Preußen and Lili Boulanger, followed by a set by the HfMT Big Band with composer and singer Monta Tupčijenko. | 90 minutes |
| Thursday, 24.04.2025 | 3:00 pm | Standing Ovation I | Guided tour through the exhibition “Standing Ovation – Women Composers Seen!” with insights into the life and work of Emilie Mayer, Dora Pejačević, Louise Farrenc, Ethel Smyth and Lili Boulanger. | 50 minutes |
| 5:00 pm | Cassandra’s Cycle | Scenic performance of the song cycle by Connie Converse, one of the first female singer-songwriters in the USA, whose personal lyrics distinguish her as a forerunner of Bob Dylan. | 50 minutes | |
| 19:00 |
Profs go Feminale 2.0 |
HfMT teachers will perform works by composers such as Claude Arrieu, Mel Bonis, Rebecca Saunders, Vítězslava Kaprálová and Francesca Caccini. Contributors: Geert Smits, Menno van Delft, Tanja Becker-Bender, Alexei Petrov, Asya Fateyeva and others. | 80 minutes | |
| Friday, 25.04.2025 | 3:00 pm | Female Voices – Ensemble Edition | Female students present vocal works in various ensembles, including works by Amy Beach, Abbie Betinis, Fanny Hensel and Kaija Saariaho. | 60 minutes |
| 4:30 pm |
Key Figures: Resonances, Keys, Words |
Concert in two parts with music from the 17th to the 21st century for harpsichord, piano and voice. Part I: Music for keyboard instruments; Part II: Conversation with female musicians and composers as well as improvised music from all over the world. | 75 minutes | |
| 7:30 pm | 75 years of female composers at the HfMT | Works by female composers of the HfMT, including Ilse Fromm-Michaels, as well as current compositions by students and teachers, including two world premieres. | 70 minutes | |
| Saturday, 26.04.2025 | 11:00 a.m. | Matinee: Organ and choir music in St. Johannis-Harvestehude | Matinee with organ and choir music in the church of St. Johannis-Harvestehude. | n.a. |
| 3:00 pm | Musical heroines! | Concert with works by female composers who are considered musical heroines. | n.a. | |
| 4:30 pm | Standing Ovation II | Second guided tour through the exhibition “Standing Ovation – Women Composers Seen!” with further insights into the life and work of important women composers. | n.a. | |
| 7:00 pm | Great works need great halls! | Concert with large-scale works by female composers that are performed in large halls. | n.a. | |
| 21:00 |
Feminale Closing Night feat. GGG |
Closing event of the festival with a DJ set by GGG, who will provide the perfect musical finale. | n/a |
Note: “n.a.” stands for “not specified”, as the exact duration of these events has not yet been determined.
Free admission – diversity welcome
The Feminale is open to anyone interested in music and gender equality. Students, music lovers, creative artists and anyone who is curious are invited to discover the works of strong female composers and make a musical statement together.
Date
- 25. April 2025
- Expired!
Time
- 15:00 - 16:00
More Info
Location
- Harvestehuder Weg 12, 20148 Hamburg
