Quartet
How Four Women Changed the Musical World
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Quartet
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Narrated by:
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Leah Broad
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By:
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Leah Broad
About this listen
*WINNER OF THE ROYAL PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY STORYTELLING AWARD*
The lives, loves, adventures and trailblazing musical careers of four extraordinary women from a stunning debut biographer.
'Magnificent.' Kate Mosse 'Riveting.' Antonia Fraser 'A breath of fresh air.' Kate Molleson 'Fascinating.' Alexandra Harris 'Wonderful.' Claire Tomalin 'Splendid.' Miranda Seymour 'Remarkable.' Fiona Maddocks 'Pioneering.' Andrew Motion ' Brilliant.' Helen Pankhurst
Ethel Smyth (b.1858): Famed for her operas, this trailblazing queer Victorian composer was a larger-than-life socialite, intrepid traveller and committed Suffragette.
Rebecca Clarke (b.1886): This talented violist and Pre-Raphaelite beauty was one of the first women ever hired by a professional orchestra, later celebrated for her modernist experimentation.
Dorothy Howell (b.1898): A prodigy who shot to fame at the 1919 Proms, her reputation as the 'English Strauss' never dented her modesty; on retirement, she tended Elgar's grave alone.
Doreen Carwithen (b.1922): One of Britain's first woman film composers who scored Elizabeth II's coronation film, her success hid a 20-year affair with her married composition tutor .
In their time, these women were celebrities. They composed some of the century's most popular music and pioneered creative careers; but today, they are ghostly presences, surviving only as muses and footnotes to male contemporaries like Elgar, Vaughan Williams and Britten - until now.
Leah Broad's magnificent group biography resurrects these forgotten voices, recounting lives of rebellion, heartbreak and ambition, and celebrating their musical masterpieces. Lighting up a panoramic sweep of British history over two World Wars, Quartet revolutionises the canon forever.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.
©2023 Leah Broad (P)2023 Faber & FaberListeners also enjoyed...
What listeners say about Quartet
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- C L Turnell
- 03-06-24
How these important life stories have been buried.
I thoroughly enjoyed the interweaving of the timelines of these women’s lives. Learning about what they lived through and the history that was unfolding around them throughout their lives. How little changed much of the female experience is even today.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Lisa Heledd Jones
- 21-04-23
Beautiful
I so enjoyed how these stories were woven together. I am not a classical music listener, but this book caught my eye and I've since listened to compositions by each of the women. Zooming in on these individuals allowed a way of exploring social history and the wider gender issues of their times (and that continue).
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- anonymous
- 19-12-23
Fun, touching, and fascinating
Tells the story of four incredible women. But you hear things so much from their perspectives, it feels like you're getting to know them. Ethel is my favourite.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Patricia Price
- 12-06-23
Women composers
I loved this well researched book - although my BP rose a bit at the battles they all had to fight, just to be heard. I’ve recommended to many music lovers.
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- EdPeters
- 17-07-23
Bored
This was a struggle to listen to.
I'm sure the book will be interesting to those researching the featured composers but rather dry material for an audio book.
I can't understand authors reading there own books and simply failing to convey any interest in what they are reading.
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1 person found this helpful