The Three Elizabeths of Georgian England: A Harpsichord Recital
The Georgian period was a time of profound transformation in Britain. As the country emerged as an international power, it also witnessed the founding of key cultural institutions such as the British Museum (1753) and the publication of the Encyclopaedia Britannica (1768).
It was also during this era that the first published works by women composers for the harpsichord began to appear—marking a shift from women’s music-making being confined to the domestic sphere to entering the public and printed realm.

This programme showcases music by three such enterprising women, all sharing the name Elizabeth: Elisabetta de Gambarini (1730–1765), Elizabeth Turner (d.1756), and Elizabeth Hardin (1750–1780). Their charming and expressive harpsichord works were published in 1748, 1756, and 1770 respectively, offering a glimpse into the creative voices of women in Georgian England.