Programme for the evening

This concert brings together music by composers from Anna Ancher’s circle, highlighting a rich but often overlooked repertoire created largely by women. Eight piano pieces by Hilda Sehested (1858–1936) form a connecting thread through a programme of songs with piano accompaniment.

The programme features songs by Tekla Griebel Wandall, Nanna Liebmann, Margaret Hamerik, and Nancy Dalberg, presented as part of a wider initiative by the Danish publisher Edition·S to champion female composers. Liebmann and Ancher were both closely involved in the influential Women’s Exhibition of 1895, reflecting the shared artistic networks of the time.

Songs are performed in Danish, German, and English, alongside two works by Carl Nielsen, I Was Born in Denmark and The Sun Is Shining in the Neighbour’s Yard, with texts by H. C. Andersen. Dalberg, who worked closely with Nielsen for many years, played an important role in shaping his music, including the celebrated cantata Funen Spring.

Interwoven stories, adapted for an English-speaking audience, connect the music to the cultural world of Anna Ancher, bringing this vibrant artistic moment to life.

Production by Dulwich Picture Gallery in partnership with Embassy of Denmark.

Performers

The acclaimed Danish Soprano, Else Torp and the British pianist, Miles Lallemant will perform a special recital of traditional Danish songs from the times of Anna Ancher and the Skagen Painters, beautifully linking sight with sound for Anna Ancher: Painting Light.

The concert will bring together a rich array of music by Ancher’s contemporary composers, paying special attention to the female musicians who were pioneers in this time.

You will also have an opportunity to explore the exhibition, Anna Ancher: Painting Light during your visit.