Anna Rakitina was awarded European Culture Prize 2025
Being а female conductor in today’s music world does not feel too uncommon, though, for sure, it was not always like this. The rise of women in the profession is a relatively recent development and, as with many other leadership and governance activities, most positions have been held by males. In the past this had seemed perfectly natural. Conducting demands many qualities that traditionally were attributed to men rather than women: strong leadership, strict character, unwavering resolve, a cool head, and, last but not least, physical strength. For a long time, all this made conducting suitable (in the eyes of many) almost exclusively the domain of men.
Throughout history, leadership roles were given only to males, and not just in the music field. The gender division applied to politics, military service, aviation, etc. Women faced inequity wherever qualities such as boldness were thought to be needed. There are many women today who work hard to prove their capacity for this work. People struggle for equal opportunities and, step by step, are making gains. In classical music, particularly conducting, female musicians have shown themselves strong enough finally to break through and keep up with males on the stage.
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