EMILIE MAYER (1812-1883): Symphony No. 5 in F Minor, LUISE ADOLPHA LE BEAU (1850-1927): Piano Concerto in D Minor, Op. 37, FANNY MENDELSSOHN (1805-1847): Hero und Leander for Soprano and Orchestra.

Description: Daughter of a pharmacist, Mayer, as with all women composers of her period, had to learn composition and write her works on the side: 12 cello sonatas and 7 each of piano trios, violin sonatas and string quartets, five concert overtures, a piano concerto and five symphonies surely put her among the most prolific female composers of the Romantic period. Mayer's symphony had its first performance in 1862 and it's a fiery and turbulent work befitting its key signature, very Mendelssohnian in style and worthy to be compared with the symphonies of Raff and Louise Farrenc. We've had some of Le Beau's chamber music in the past; her only piano concerto, a very lyrical and melodic work which doesn't stint on virtuosity either (there's also a Fantasy for piano and orchestra) comes from 1887. Katia Tchemberdji (piano), Maacha Deubner (soprano), Berlin Chamber Symphony; Jürgen Bruns.