La Dédicataire: Music Written for Women

Melanie Williams ~ flute
Serafim Smigelskiy ~ violoncello
Rebecca Pechefsky ~ harpsichord

Though women were not always encouraged to compose music, they were often highly schooled and virtuoso performers. This program will feature 18th-century compositions inspired by and written for women — whether powerful monarchs or cultured private citizens — including pieces by Johann Christian Bach, Jean-Marie Leclair, Christoph Schaffrath, and Domenico Scarlatti.

Brooklyn Baroque debuted in the fall of 2000, when cellist David Bakamjian joined the long-standing duo of Baroque flutist Andrew Bolotowsky and harpsichordist Rebecca Pechefsky. Remaining core members Pechefsky and Bakamjian were recently joined by flutist Melanie Williams. The ensemble now performs at the Old Stone House in Brooklyn. Violoncellist Serafim Smigelskiy joins the ensemble for this performance.