Legacy of Hildegard von Bingen
"She was an absolute powerhouse of a woman," says Australian singer and composer Jessica O'Donoghue, who has performed and programmed many of Hildegard's works. "She was one of the earliest examples of a feminist in a time where women were really oppressed."
Hildegard's many achievements were a source of inspiration for O'Donoghue. "For many people, Hildegard brings to life the art and music of the medieval time," she says. As a co-artistic director of The Song Company, O'Donoghue says "[Hildegard] is constantly popping up in my career and on my list of repertoire and performances."
In 2022, The Song Company performed Hildegard's Ordo Virtutum, which O'Donoghue says "is the first example of an opera ever documented."