Lucile Richardot / Anne de Fornel

Taught at first by their father, and then later by Gabriel Fauré as well, the two lady composers from Paris were already causing a sensation as teenagers. Although Lili Boulanger became the first woman to win France’s top music prize, the Prix de Rome, in 1913, premature death put an end to her career.

Her sister Nadia, on the other hand, continued to compose, perform and teach into old age. Entire generations of composers learnt from her, among them such big names as Leonard Bernstein, Quincy Jones and Philip Glass.

Less well-known, but still worth discovering, are contemporary colleagues of the Boulanger sisters, e.g. Liza Lehmann, Ethel Barns and Rebecca Clarke, who make up a British highlight in tonight’s programme.