The Prix de Rome, an artistic competition, was created by Louis XIV in 1663 and originally open only to painters and sculptors.
Composer Biography
Lili Boulanger was the first woman to win the Prix de Rome in musical composition in 1913, followed by Marguerite Canal in 1920 and Jeanne Leleu in 1923.
Instruments
Magdalēna Geka, the violinist on this album, plays a 1734 violin made by Alessandro Gagliano, provided by the Anima Music Foundation.
Historical Context
The Prix de Rome competition was long closed to women, with the first female laureate, sculptor Lucienne Heuvelmans, admitted in 1911.
Composer Biography
Lili Boulanger's older sister, Nadia Boulanger, a world-famous pianist and teacher, championed Lili's works after her premature death at age 24.
Recording & Production
For this recording, a 1903 Érard piano was chosen to replicate the sound of the period when the featured works were composed.
