Joyful, powerful celebration of women composers by phenomenal musicians
Her Ensemble at Ronnie Scott’s was one of those rare evenings that felt both purposeful and genuinely joyful. Founded by Ellie Consta, the ensemble is built on the fact that just 3.6% of classical music performed worldwide in 2019 was written by women. Rather than treating this as a footnote, the programme placed it front and centre by celebrating the depth, range and brilliance of women composers in a way that felt both intentional and long overdue.
The evening was hosted by the trio Ellie Consta (violin), Laura van der Heijden (cello), and Junyan Chen (piano). All three are phenomenal musicians, and what elevated the performance even further was hearing their perspectives between pieces and their admiration for women composers.
What stood out most was the tone of the programme. There was a real sense of joy running through the setlist; each piece was vibrant, engaging, and rich on its own merits. One highlight was Saaans by Reena Esmail, a composer renowned for weaving Indian influences into her music. The piece brought a distinctive texture and emotional depth to the programme, blending traditions in a way that felt deeply expressive.
The standout moment of the evening, however, was Jazz Nocturne by Dana Suesse. Knowing that Suesse studied under Gershwin adds an extra layer of context, but what made it particularly special here was that the piece had been arranged collaboratively by Consta, van der Heijden and Chen themselves. It felt like a perfect convergence of past and present by honouring a composer who had been historically overlooked, while also showcasing the creativity and artistry of the performers on stage.
Overall, it was a very special evening with Her Ensemble, where the audience was able to enjoy excellent musicianship, thoughtful curation, and a clear sense of purpose.