Bringing Back Branscombe: A Woman Composer Lost - Now Found

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The Gena Branscombe Project is sharing the video of my speech, "Bringing Back Branscombe: A Woman Composer Lost - Now Found."  The speech was given at the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music for their CCM Speaks showcase.

Enjoy listening to my 25 year journey working on the music and life of this wonderful woman composer.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5ibOhjsMh0

#BringingBackBranscombe
 

 

Dalia Stasevska - Conductor

 In late August my Bar Harbor friend, Dr. Bill Horner, flew to Lahti, Finland to attend the Sibelius Festival.  Bill has become quite a Sibeliophile listening to the composer’s symphonies, tone poems and reading his biography.  Bill shared the diary of his trip that included his review of the three Sibelius concerts he attended.  Through his writing I learned of conductor Dalia Stasevska.  Bill admits to not having the credentials of a music critic, yet, his review of Maestra Stasevska is quite accurate, I am sure; “her conducting style spot on: her baton arm marked a tempo that even I could follow, and her left made long sweeping motions that imparted her evident passion to both her orchestra and to me.”

Another woman conductor has crossed my radar screen and one whose career is worth researching and writing about on my blog!

Dalia Stasevska was born Kyiv, Ukraine in 1984.  Her family moved to Finland when she was five. Her music training began on the violin and eventually she studied composition at the Tampere Conservatory in Finland.  Moving forward she continued her studies of violin and viola at the Sibelius Academy where conducting studies were afforded by pawning her violin.  

How she chose to be a conductor - 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbMSFvX3mB0

Dalia has been appointed the Chief Conductor of the Lahti Symphony Orchestra and Artistic Director to the International Sibelius Festival.  She is Principal Guest Conductor to the BBC Symphony Orchestra, made her BBC Proms debut in 2019 and in 2023 conducted the First Night of the BBC Proms. 

Below is the link to to that BBC Proms concert.  She begins conducting around 2 minutes. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mT9IwYfTr7E&t=234s

Maestra Stasevska has conducted concerts with the world’s leading orchestras including the Cleveland Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, Seattle Symphony, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic. Chicago Symphony, Deutsches Symphonie-OrchesterBerlin and the list goes on and on. 

Opera conducting is another of her musical passions leading productions at the Glyndebourne Opera Festival, Finnish National Opera and with the Kungliga Opera Stockholm. 

 

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky bestowed on Dalia the Order of Princess Olga of the III Degree for her contribution to international cooperation and upholding Ukraine’s prestigious historical and cultural heritage.  She and her brothers have actively raised donations for supplies given to the Ukraine people, delivering them in person. 

Dalia is married to the great grandson of Jean Sibelius, Lauri Porra, who is a Finnish composer and musician.  The couple has one child.

Known for her colorful conducting wardrobe - she is a colorful, spirited conductor as well; one who has masterfully led the world’s greatest orchestras.  Her baton technique radiates her passionate musical understanding to all who work with her. 

Another brilliant woman conductor is on my radar.  And, my thanks to my friend, Bill Horner, for making the trip to the Sibelius Festival!

#BringingBackBranscombe