Women on the musical stage of Rzeszów at the turn of the 19th and 20th century

Abstract

The presented image of women’s musical activity in Rzeszów at the turn of the 19th and 20th century, their participation in concerts is an attempt to show a bigger picture of women’s activity in the musical life of Galicia in the era of autonomy. The local press in Rzeszów at that time constitutes an excellent source of knowledge about women’s activity on the musical stage in Rzeszów. Mentions about concerts, performances, theatrical troupes led by women, music lessons offered by ladies were included in almost every issue, confirming the high frequency of women’s activities in this field. The audience in Rzeszów could see amateur and professional female performers, local and visiting ones, also artists famous for appearing on European stages. Vocal and instrumental concerts were an opportunity to present the repertoire which was up to the standards of stages in Lviv, Cracow or Vienna, thanks to which inhabitants of the provincial town which Rzeszów was at that time, could develop and shape their musical tastes.