FULL Die geniale Schwester: Fanny Hensel, geb. Mendelssohn Documentary Germany 2022 Chen Reiss, Tiphaine Chevalier

Information on the Performance

• Work Title: Die geniale Schwester: Fanny Hensel, geb. Mendelssohn or La soeur géniale - Fanny Hensel, née Mendelssohn  
• Composer: Hensel Fanny née Mendelssohn  
• Libretto: N/A  
• Venue & Opera Company: Germany  
• Recorded: 2022
• Type: Other
• Singers: Chen Reiss, Tiphaine Chevalier
• Conductor:   
• Orchestra: Jewish Chamber Orchestra Munich  
• Stage Director: Anna Schmidt  
• Costume Designer:   

Information about the Recording

• Published by: ARD, ARTE  
• Date Published: 2022  
• Format: Streaming
• Quality Video: 4 Audio:4
• Subtitles: yessubs, frsubs  

• ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THIS PERFORMANCE

  In the summer of 1846, Fanny Hensel was 40 years old and was at a turning point in her life. She finally has the courage to publish her compositions. However, she has no idea that she doesn’t have time to enjoy her success. The sister of the famous Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy is just as talented as her brother, but different rules apply to her in the 19th century. While a musical career has been open to him since childhood, Fanny is forced into the role of housewife and mother.

  Although, like Felix, she has all the prerequisites for a great music career, she will always remain in her brother’s shadow. For decades he even prevented them from publishing their works. But Fanny continues to compose undeterred. More than 450 works were created, including piano and song compositions, orchestral and choral pieces, and chamber music. To date, only fragments of the entire work have appeared in print.

  Their lives are characterized by sibling rivalry, oppression but also rebellion. Only shortly before the end of her life did she begin to emancipate herself from social constraints – both artistically and personally. It is the aftertaste of a late trip to Italy that unleashes previously unknown creativity and determination.

  Today Fanny is considered one of the most important composers of the 19th century. What was life like as an artistically gifted woman in an era of patriarchal constraints? And what twists and turns in life made her rebel against this shortly before her death?

  A cinematic portrait of the composer and pianist Fanny Hensel, née Mendelssohn

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