Violinist Esther Abrami Reveals ‘Hidden Gems’ of Music Composed by Women
When she was 25, violinist Esther Abrami discovered a striking gap in her musical journey: among the countless pieces she had performed, none were composed by women. Her heartfelt mission to address this has blossomed into her new album, Women.
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The moment Esther first encountered a violin at the tender age of three marked the beginning of an extraordinary affinity. This beloved instrument, once owned by her late grandmother Françoise, became a bridge connecting their shared musical legacy. “She gave up the violin when she got married,” Abrami reflects. “I kind of took where she left and kept going.” This beautiful narrative of inspiration resonates in her composition, “Transmission,” part of her latest album released last Friday. The composition unfolds like a cinematic journey, harmonizing gracefully with the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra.
“It’s a composition that evokes deep emotions for me, and recording it felt incredibly special,” Abrami shared. The album Women includes the world-premiere studio recording of Irish composer Ina Boyle’s Violin Concerto (1935), which paints serene, pastoral imagery with the essence of a tone poem. Sadly, Boyle and several other contributing composers, such as Brazil’s Chiquinha Gonzaga and Venezuela’s Teresa Carreño, have often been overlooked. Composed in collaboration with conductor Irene Delgado-Jiménez, these orchestral works find new life under a guiding figure who has faced similar challenges in her journey.
Among the vibrant living composers featured in the album are Oscar winners Rachel Portman and Anne Dudley, along with Miley Cyrus, through a touching arrangement of “Flowers,” and Yoko Shimomura, whose “Valse di Fantastica” brings a unique flavor from the video game Final Fantasy XV.
Violinist Esther Abrami Monitoring Her Recording Session
Upon reflection, Abrami expressed, “In all those years of study, I realized none of the pieces I learned were written by women.” At just 28, her discoveries have been profound. “Embarking on this journey was like opening the door to a hidden treasure.”
Boyle’s mentor, Ralph Vaughan Williams, once praised her courage amidst a lack of recognition, a sentiment that Abrami echoes in her endeavors. “Hopefully, in ten years, an album titled Women won’t be necessary,” she muses. “Yet, we still have much to do to create an equal landscape for women’s works in performance.” Recent data from the Donne Foundation reveals that works by female composers accounted for only 7.5 percent of global orchestral repertoire, highlighting the road still ahead.
Abrami is committed to being a beacon of change on social media, inspiring young women to take up musical pursuits. “I see the impact on young girls coming to my concerts, telling me how my online presence motivated them to study the violin. Now, they are requesting pieces composed by women from their teachers.”
Exploring Composers of the Past
Composers like Pauline Viardot were celebrated in their era, yet faded from recognition after their time. Abrami recalls Viardot’s influential role in 19th-century musical circles, championing her contemporaries, including Georges Bizet and his Carmen, which was initially met with indifference yet flourished in later years.
“She hosted gatherings in her Parisian home, surrounded by cultural luminaries of her time,” notes Abrami, illuminating the vibrant connections Viardot created with figures like George Sand, Chopin, and the Schumanns.
Honoring Heritage through Music
Abrami holds a special connection to her ancestry, including Holocaust survivors among her grandparents. In a poignant gesture on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, she released Ilse Weber’s “Wiegala” as a single. This haunting lullaby, composed by Weber while caring for children in the Theresienstadt concentration camp, serves as a testament to hope and resilience. “To soothe the children, she would compose music and sing to them,” Abrami conveys. Tragically, she accompanied these children to the gas chambers, with “Wiegala” echoing in their final moments. Thanks to her husband’s perseverance in preserving her works, this incredibly moving lullaby remains a cherished reminder of love amid sorrow.
Let us embrace the richness of diverse voices in music and support one another in nurturing a more inclusive musical world.
