Mrs Philarmonica – a South African Premiere (2025 Cape Town Baroque Festival – EVENT 4)

The Cape Town Baroque Trio presents a programme of music by the early 18^th-century English female composer Mrs Philarmonica, whose actual identity remains unknown up to this day. There are only two extant collections of music composed by her, both published under the pseudonym ‘Mrs Philarmonica’. In this programme, compiled by Annien Shaw and consisting of trio sonatas by the ever-elusive Mrs Philarmonica, we celebrate female composers of the Baroque and bring to light the work of a composer of very expressive and complex music who had been forgotten by history for a long time.

This concert will be presented at, and in collaboration with, the Irma Stern Museum on the University of Cape Town campus, thereby emphasising the important contribution, from the 18^th to the 20^th century, of female artists and composers. The Cape Town Baroque Trio consists of three Cape Town Baroque Orchestra section leaders, namely Annien Shaw (baroque violin), Ralitza Macheva (baroque violin) and Rosamund Roth (baroque cello), who specialise in playing chamber music from the Baroque on period instruments. They will be joined by Erik Dippenaar (spinet).

Date: Saturday, 27 September
Time: 11:00-12:00
Venue: UCT Irma Stern Museum, Rosebank
Tickets: R250 (regular), R220 (pensioners), R100 (learners/students). Book fast – this is an intimate concert, with only 40 tickets available!

Enquiries can be directed to [email protected].

BOOK HERE

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This is Event 4 in our 2025 Cape Town Baroque Festival. Click here for a downloadable summary of all the festival events. We are offering a limited number of discounted festival passes, which include access to all fourfestival concerts (i.e., excluding Event 1, which is an educational event). Book a festival pass here.

The 2025 Cape Town Baroque Festival is generously supported by the Rupert Musiekstigting, Bill van Rensburg, the RHL Foundation, and the Cape Town Theatre Trust.

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A short example of the ever-mysterious Mrs Philarmonica’s music (played here by Le Consort):