Rowan Hellier mezzo-soprano ; Jonathan Ware piano

She Represents (the title of a 1928 watercolour by Jeanne Mammen) is a costumed Lieder recital exploring female expression and definition of self. Compositions by Rita Strohl, Kurt Weill, Cathy Berberian and others are augmented by costumes based on artworks by Mammen and Otto Dix. The final dress is created by renowned German-Chilean stage and costume designer Rebekka Dornhege Reyes. The recital centres on the ‘New Woman’ – a feminist ideal and icon of changing gender norms that arose late in the 19th Century and had far-reaching influence well into the 20th.

Francis Poulenc – Voyage à Paris
Francis Poulenc – Hôtel
Rita Strohl – La chevelure
Rita Strohl – Bilitis
Kurt Weill – Die Seeräuberjenny
Kurt Weill – No. 2 Die Ballade vom ertrunkenen Mädchen
Arnold Schoenberg – Der genügsame Liebhaber
Arnold Schoenberg – Seit ich so viele Weiber sah (Aus dem Spiegel von Arcadia)
Francis Poulenc – Sanglots
Kurt Weill – No. 5 Buddy on the night shift
Kurt Weill – Alabama Song
Kurt Weill – No. 2 Schickelgruber
Mischa Spoliansky – No. 3 Ich bin ein Vamp!