Daphne on the Path to Self-Determination

In antiquity, women were often seen as an inferior counterpart to men, which is frequently reflected in myths through the portrayal of women as victims of rape and playthings of the gods. The myth of Apollo and Daphne is one such example:

Apollo is hopelessly in love with Daphne. However, Daphne does not return Apollo’s affection, fleeing from his desire and desperately begging her father for help. Her father transforms her into a laurel tree, but this does not stop Apollo: “He places his hand on the trunk, feels the beloved’s heart still beating beneath the bark; and his arm embraces the branches like limbs, covering the wood with kisses, which still recoils from his lips.”

Since women in the Baroque period were still unable to live independently and were subject to the will of their fathers or husbands, we have deliberately selected works by female composers, such as Anna Bon di Venezia and Mrs. Philharmonica.

Even in the 21st century, millions of women worldwide are still unable to make decisions about their own bodies. In Germany, one in three women becomes a victim of physical and/or sexualized violence at least once in her lifetime. That’s why we want to use our concert to raise awareness of this issue and connect the story of Daphne with the fate of many affected children, women, and men today.

With excerpts from this program, Barock_Plus won the 1st prize at the Göttingen Händel Competition 2023.