Great Women Composers Princess Natalia Ivanovna Kurakina

Princess Natalia Ivanovna Kurakina (1768-1831) was born into a well established noble family in St. Petersburg during the reign of Catherine the Great. Her natural gifts in music led her parents to provide an excellent musical education during her childhood that enhanced her talents, as well as her marriage prospects. Consequently, Kurakina became a well known harpist, singer, and composer of songs among the St. Petersburg aristocratic salons during the years before her marriage in 1783, at the tender age of fourteen. She gave regular salon performances of her own songs, accompanying herself on the harp. She was probably the most highly respected woman composer of her day in St. Petersburg. She was extremely prolific. Writing more than all the Russian composers who produced work before 1800, male or female.  Forty-five songs attributed to her are found in her manuscript album.

Collection 1, Set of 5 Women Composers, Hildagard von Bingen, Barbara Strozzi, Francesca Caccini, Elisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre, Princess Natalia Ivanovna Kurakina

Collection 2, Set of 5 Women Composers, Fanny Mendelssohn, Lili Boulanger, Clara Wieck Schumann, Louise Farrenc, Zitkala-Sa