To mark International Women’s Day, we would like to introduce three remarkable women whose artistic work has had a lasting impact on the world of immersive music and paved the way for women. Join us on a short journey through the impressive performances of Jane Ira Bloom, Mylène Farmer and Sarah Hicks.
Jane Ira Bloom: jazz virtuoso who redefines boundaries
Jane Ira Bloom, a renowned saxophonist and composer, has captivated audiences worldwide with her unique blend of traditional jazz and contemporary innovation. Her talent as a musician and composer have brought a new perspective to the world of jazz – soaring, poetic, spontaneous and instantly recognisable are the words used to describe the soprano sound of saxophonist Jane Ira Bloom. For 35 years she has been steadily developing her singular, instantly recognisable voice on the straight horn and has created music that marks her as an American original.
Today she is a nine-time winner of the Jazz Journalists Association Award for soprano saxophone, the Downbeat International Critics Poll and the Charlie Parker Award for Jazz Innovation and has worked with outstanding jazz artists such as Charlie Haden, Ed Blackwell, Kenny Wheeler, Julian Priester, Mark Dresser, Jerry Granelli, Matt Wilson, Billy Hart and Fred Hersch.
In 1989, she was the first musician to receive a composition commission from NASA. She wrote the piece “Most Distant Galaxy” for her, which is included on her album Art & Aviation (1992), and even had the honour of having an asteroid named for her by the International Astronomical Union (Asteroid 6083janeirabloom).
With her album “Early Americans”, she received her first Grammy for Best Surround Sound Album of the Year in 2018.
Mylène Farmer: French pop sensation
French pop sensation Mylène Farmer has captured the hearts of millions with her mesmerising voice.
Mylène’s road to fame began in the 1980s with her groundbreaking debut album “Cendres de Lune”, which catapulted her into the limelight. With her ease in blending genres, Mylène Farmer quickly became a trailblazer and redefined the French pop landscape. Her collaboration with composer Laurent Boutonnat was nothing short of magical and produced some of the most iconic and memorable hits in the history of French music.
With over 30 million records sold, she has repeatedly topped the charts throughout her career and received numerous awards. Her success extends far beyond the borders of France and has earned her a loyal fan base around the world.
And her music videos are also impressive, often reminiscent of visually captivating short films: The iconic video for “Libertine” marked the beginning of Mylène’s visually stunning and provocative talent for telling stories with her music.
It’s not always easy to see Mylène Farmer live – she’s not a big fan of touring and often limits herself to French-speaking countries or performs in Bercy. If you haven’t had your chance yet, you can admire their impressive shows in “Live 2019 – Le Film” in Dolby Atmos.
Sarah Hicks: Conductor at the top
In the world of classical music, Sarah Hicks stands out as a pioneer. As one of the few female conductors to lead large orchestras, Hicks has garnered much acclaim for her dynamic and captivating performances, hopefully paving the way for many female conductors after her.
As principal conductor of Live at Orchestra Hall with the Minnesota Orchestra, Hicks has demonstrated her extraordinary talent on national and international stages. Her honours include collaborations with renowned artists such as Prince, Sting and Ben Folds. She is characterised by her versatility and ability to switch seamlessly between genres and combine them with one another.
Sarah Hicks also specialises in the genre of film music in concert. She is passionate about creating concert experiences that combine seeing and hearing and hopes to attract new listeners to the orchestral genre.
For example, she has performed in concerts for Harry Potter, Star Wars and Pixar films such as Coco and The Little Mermaid. In collaboration with the Danish National Symphony Orchestra, she recorded film music for “The Morricone Duel”, a globally broadcast concert of film music by Ennio Morricone.
