The catalogue of classical music is massive. It’s hard to know where to start.  As part of this journey into the classical world I’ve decided to immerse myself in a different composer every month. Each week of that month I’ll look at a popular or interesting piece and the story around it. It’ll be their story and my story.

Dame Ethel Smyth was a seriously accomplished woman. Talented in both musical and literary arts she was also an iconic suffragette activist who fought alongside Emmeline Pankhurst. As well as chamber and symphonic music she composed choral pieces, songs and ballets. She is still the only woman to have had an opera performed at The Met.

Dame Ethel smyth