Celebrating Female Composers with the Erda Ensemble

Join us at St Barnabas Church for a captivating classical concert celebrating the brilliance and creativity of female composers. Performed by the acclaimed Erda Ensemble, this concert showcases chamber music for mezzo-soprano, flute and harp — featuring both beloved classics and hidden gems rarely heard in concert halls today.
Following her acclaimed performance as Linda in the Royal Opera House’s Olivier-award winning Festen, Marta Fontanals-Simmons joins forces with flautist Chloë Vincent and harpist Olivia Jageurs for this beautifully curated programme.

Experience the lyrical elegance of Cécile Chaminade and Amy Beach, trailblazers who shaped the musical landscape in the early 1900s. Discover the evocative works of lesser-known yet equally remarkable voices — Ina Boyle, Grace Williams, and Rosy Wertheim — whose music is finding new life with today’s audiences. The evening also celebrates the ongoing legacy of these pioneers with compelling pieces by present-day composers Cheryl Frances-Hoad, Roxanna Panufnik and Harriet Adie.

Fresh from appearances at the Leeds Song, Presteigne and Roman River Festivals, the Erda Ensemble brings their artistry and passion to the Dulwich Festival for the first time.
Come and be moved by music that transcends time — a celebration of female creativity, resilience, and voice.

“Sophisticated and subtly effective, the deeply felt music-making from all three musicians will linger long in the memory.” - Musical Opinion 2025

Praise for mezzo-soprano Marta Fontanals-Simmons:
"crystalline and haunting in her delivery" Benjamin Poore / OperaWire