preserving & performing operatic works written by women

WOMEN of OPERA

"I feel I must fight for my music because I want women to turn their minds to big and difficult jobs, not just to go on hugging the shore, afraid to put out to sea." - Ethel Smyth, composer

Women of Opera was founded by Madison Barton-Holloway in 2024 to shine a light on operas written by women—works that deserve to be performed on the opera and recital stage but are too often overlooked. What began as a college passion project turned into an annual Festival of Women in the Arts at her undergraduate school and a desire to continue discovering new music.

In 2023, a grant from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music took Madison across Europe to research and preserve forgotten operas by women. Women of Opera now has over 80 pieces of music and operas compiled and ready to perform. Women of Opera is dedicated to connecting audiences with this priceless music. Our recitals, featuring talented young singers and pianists, offer not only beautiful performances, but also an educational and meaningful musical experience for all audiences. Connect with today us to find out how to book a performance of this beautiful music.

WOMEN WOMEN WOMEN 📣 oh hiiiii betcha you didn’t know there are 1,000,000 incredible composers who wrote beautiful music that goes unperformed because it was written by… women 💋

#women #feminism #music #classicalmusic #history #womenshistory #strongwomen #composer #symphony #opera #musichistory #fallinlove

Hi 👋 if you’re seeing this trial reel… then this is a sign to come join us & learn about & celebrate incredible women from music history. Women’s compositions have long been overlooked & we are changing that!! There is so much to celebrate, including the women in this video! #womenofopera

[womens history, women in music, music history, women in history, classical music, classical piano, music teaching, women composers, female composers, women in the arts]

Joyeux anniversaire, Nadia! 💙 my obsession with the Boulanger sisters knows no bounds. Happy birthday to Nadia— a pioneer & a composer & a teacher. Go take a listen to Cantique & Three Pieces for cello & piano. You won’t regret it !!

[womens history, women in music, music history, women in history, classical music, classical piano, Nadia Boulanger, Lili Boulanger, Boulanger sisters, French women, Aaron Copland, Phillip glass, Quincy jones, music teaching, French history, women composers, female composers, women in the arts]

Hbd, Clara!!! In honor of Queen Clara Schumann’s birthday you should all go listen to her 3 Romances for violin & piano and Lorelei 💕💚 #womenofopera

[womens history, women in music, music history, women in history, classical music, classical piano, Clara Schumann, Robert Schumann, Brahms, women composers, female composers, women in the arts]

Forever obsessed with @donne_uk & their research !!!! Also I apologize in advance for saying the word “interesting” approximately 12,000 times 🩷 #women #classicalmusic

[women in music, women composers, women’s history, music history, classical music, gender equality]

OH yeah by the way I finally got my Master’s degree!! So grateful for our 2 years in San Francisco, they were the most magical & I miss it already. So much music making & laughs & reading & performing. But now I’ve got lots of time to do Women of Opera things & im giddy about things coming up!! Long live Women of Opera!! #yaymusic

OKAY talking about the cutest little find in a free book 🥹 we love women who champion other women (& please ignore my pajama pants hehe)

no trending audio for this very nice day 🎀 #womeninmusic #dayinthelife

“Loving a child doesn’t mean giving in to all his whims; to love him is to bring out the best in him, to teach him to love what is difficult.” Nadia Boulanger 🫶 #womeninmusic #classicalmusic (& I formally apologize for the misspelled names in the captions)

!!!!!!! Big day for Women of Opera !!!!!!!! Final product of an aria after being taken from an original, hand-written, full orchestral score & being put into a clean & easy-to-read voice-piano format. #womeninmusic #opera

UPDATE!! 🥳🍾🎀🩵🔮 Knee-deep in engraving, arranging, translating…. & it’s so fun !! I am AMAZED by the abundance of beautiful music these women wrote. All I want to do is play & sing through this music— & my jury music is unfortunately taking a hit because of it 💀🪦 #womeninmusic #opera

✨I’m on a quest to preserve operas written by women & this is a peek into my research day in one is my very favorite places, Venice, Italy 🇮🇹

#opera #operahistory #classicalmusic #musicology #musichistory #femalecomposers #womencomposer #venice #italy #sangiorgiomonastery

✨I’m on a quest to preserve operas written by women & I got to research in beautiful Vienna, Austria 🇦🇹

#opera #operahistory #classicalmusic #musicology #musichistory #femalecomposers #womencomposer #vienna #austria

✨I’m on a quest to preserve operas written by women & this is my 4th research day in Munich, Germany 🇩🇪… also please don’t come after me for saying soccer!! I am a bonafide American!

#opera #operahistory #classicalmusic #musicology #musichistory #femalecomposers #womencomposer #munich #germany

✨I’m on a quest to preserve operas written by women & this is my 2nd research day in Paris at la bibliothèque Richelieu. 🇫🇷 I am ~big~ obsessed with France, always have been & always will be!! Such a wonderful day!

#opera #operahistory #classicalmusic #musicology #musichistory #femalecomposers #womencomposer #operagarnier #paris

hot girls spend their european summer researching operas written by women…. 🥰🍻🦋 so excited about upcoming projects & long live women of opera!!

✨I’m on a quest to preserve operas written by women & the Library at the Opéra Garnier in Paris was my second stop. 🇫🇷 Getting to do research in this iconic opera house was DREAMY!! 😭💖🙊

#opera #operahistory #classicalmusic #musicology #musichistory #femalecomposers #womencomposer #operagarnier #paris

✨I’m on a quest to preserve operas written by women & the British Library was my first stop. 🇬🇧 First day of research in Europe was a total success!! Saw some real gems in the British Library… it was totally surreal to look at some of these incredible operas written by women that I’ve only read & dreamed about!!

#opera #operahistory #classicalmusic #musicology #musichistory #femalecomposers #womencomposer

Stumbling upon the graves of 3 of my favorite French composers was a treat while in Paris! Their graves were marked on the map of prominent French persons at the entrance of the cemetery— love that they were in the list! (Also so sweet that Lili & Nadia were buried together 🥹)

Other composers buried there included Berlioz, Léo Delibes, Jacques Offenbach, Ambroise Thomas and Heinrich Heine. If you’re in Paris… go wander around the Montmartre Cemetery! 💗

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#womeninmusic #femalemusician #femalemusicians #womenmusician #femalecomposer #womancomposer #musichistory #classicalpiano #classicalvoice #womeninspiringwomen #womensupportingwomen #genderequality #music #classicalmusic #womenmakinghistory #femaleartists #artbywomen #feminism #musicbywomen #booksbywomen #history #musicteacher #musiceducator #womenhistory #musicmeme #frenchmusic #liliboulanger #nadiaboulanger #frenchcomposer #frenchhistory

Sweetest little trend 🥲 I hope one day I get to thank the women that came before me ! I promise I’ll get back to posting real info soon!! I’m a busy girly!
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#womeninmusic #femalemusician #femalemusicians #womenmusician #femalecomposer #womancomposer #musichistory #classicalpiano #classicalvoice #womeninspiringwomen #womensupportingwomen #genderequality #music #classicalmusic #femaleconductor #womenmakinghistory #femaleartists #artbywomen #feminism #musicbywomen #booksbywomen #history #musicteacher #musiceducator #womenhistory #musicmeme #femaleancestors

Them: “haVe YoU hEaRd Of BaCH oR MoZArT?????😤😤😤”
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#womeninmusic #femalemusician #femalemusicians #womenmusician #femalecomposer #womancomposer #musichistory #classicalpiano #classicalvoice #womeninspiringwomen #womensupportingwomen #genderequality #music #classicalmusic #femaleconductor #womenmakinghistory #femaleartists #artbywomen #feminism #musicbywomen #booksbywomen #history #musicteacher #musiceducator #womenhistory #musicmeme #funnymusic

Me hyping up my female-composer-friends-of-centuries-past💗
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#womeninmusic #femalemusician #femalemusicians #womenmusician #femalecomposer #womancomposer #musichistory #classicalpiano #classicalvoice #womeninspiringwomen #womensupportingwomen #genderequality #music #classicalmusic #femaleconductor #womenmakinghistory #femaleartists #artbywomen #feminism #musicbywomen #booksbywomen #history #musicteacher #musiceducator #womenhistory #musicmeme #funnymusic

Can’t tell you how many times I’ve received DMs like this 🙄
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#womeninmusic #femalemusician #femalemusicians #womenmusician #femalecomposer #womancomposer #musichistory #classicalpiano #classicalvoice #womeninspiringwomen #womensupportingwomen #genderequality #music #classicalmusic #femaleconductor #womenmakinghistory #femaleartists #artbywomen #feminism #musicbywomen #booksbywomen #history #musicteacher #musiceducator #womenhistory #musicmeme #funnymusic

The meme dump you didn’t know you needed + a nice first pic for ~aesthetic~ purposes. I am who I am 🤷‍♀️ these are JOKES calm down I love Bach and Beethoven and Brahms too 🙄 also I’m really going through an Amy Beach thing if you couldn’t tell 🥵💗🕺
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#womeninmusic #femalemusician #femalemusicians #womenmusician #femalecomposer #womancomposer #musichistory #classicalpiano #classicalvoice #womeninspiringwomen #womensupportingwomen #genderequality #music #classicalmusic #femaleconductor #womenmakinghistory #femaleartists #artbywomen #feminism #musicbywomen #booksbywomen #history #musicteacher #musiceducator #womenhistory #musicmeme #funnymusic #memedump #meme

Fanny Mendelssohn finding out people are finally learning her music 🤷‍♀️🫶
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#womeninmusic #femalemusician #femalemusicians #womenmusician #femalecomposer #womancomposer #musichistory #classicalpiano #classicalvoice #womeninspiringwomen #womensupportingwomen #genderequality #music #classicalmusic #femaleconductor #womenmakinghistory #sexualaesthetics #femaleartists #artbywomen #feminism #musicbywomen #booksbywomen #history #musicteacher #musiceducator #womenhistory #fannymendelssohn #musicmeme #funnymusic

🎀 I’ve sang a lot of Pauline Viardot because I’m obsessed with her. She wrote the most magical, charming and fun music.

She came from ~the~ musical family. The daughter of Manuel Garcia and sister of the other Manuel Garcia, as well as the younger sister of celebrated opera singer, Maria Malibran. (If you don’t know the work of Manual Garcia, look him up!! A very influential person in the history of opera!)

She worked with everyone! She rubbed shoulders with Fauré, Saint-Saëns, Massenet and Chopin. Chopin would often play the piano for her in recital. Bizet reworked Gluck’s Orphée to feature her in the title role.

Songs I recommend listening to-
- Fleur Dessechee
- Aime-moi (a reworking of a Chooin mazurka!)
- Les filles de Cadix
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#womeninmusic #femalemusician #femalemusicians #womenmusician #femalecomposer #womancomposer #musichistory #inspirationalquotesfromwomen #pianomusic #classicalpiano #classicalvoice #womeninspiringwomen #womensupportingwomen #genderequality #music #classicalmusic #femaleconductor #womenmakinghistory #femaleartists #artbywomen #feminism #musicbywomen #history #musicteacher #musiceducator #womenhistory #paulineviardot #manuelgarcia #chopin #frenchmusic

🎀 I’ve always been really fascinated with the many connections between female and male composers. The Mendelssohn, Schumanns, Mozart’s & Mahlers are the first ones that come to mind. There is no doubt that the music of
the men in these relationships influenced the women— but I’m sure the reverse is true, too. Even for the Mahlers, whose relationship with each other and music was, well, complicated 🤪

🎀 Fanny & Felix Mendelssohn - siblings
🎀 Robert & Clara Schumann - married
🎀 Nannerl & Wolfgang Mozart - siblings
🎀 Gustav & Alma Mahler - married
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#womeninmusic #femalemusician #earlymusic #femalemusicians #womenmusician #femalecomposer #womancomposer #musichistory #inspirationalquotesfromwomen #pianomusic #classicalpiano #classicalvoice #womeninspiringwomen #womensupportingwomen #genderequality #music #classicalmusic #femaleconductor #womenmakinghistory #femaleartists #artbywomen #feminism #musicbywomen #history #musicteacher #womenhistory #mozart #mendelssohn #mahler #schumann

🎀 The perfect audio? Perhaps. Can you name any of these composers? (I threw in one of my favorite jazz musicians, too 😋)
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#womeninmusic #femalemusician #earlymusic #femalemusicians #womenmusician #femalecomposer #womancomposer #musichistory #inspirationalquotesfromwomen #pianomusic #classicalpiano #classicalvoice #womeninspiringwomen #womensupportingwomen #genderequality #music #classicalmusic #femaleconductor #womenmakinghistory #sexualaesthetics #femaleartists #artbywomen #feminism #musicbywomen #booksbywomen #history #musicteacher #musiceducator

🎀 As teachers, educators & examples to the upcoming generation of musicians, I believe it is our job to expose students to music written by female composers! What a gift to give them! And full-time performers— PROGRAM THEIR MUSIC! Students… don’t be afraid to find music that you love & ask your teacher for their help to learn it. You’re the musician & you’re paying them… so remember that 🤪

Not sure where to start? Shoot me a DM. I’ve got like 12,000,000 recommendations just waiting for you ☺️
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#womeninmusic #femalemusician #earlymusic #femalemusicians #womenmusician #femalecomposer #womancomposer #musichistory #inspirationalquotesfromwomen #pianomusic #classicalpiano #classicalvoice #womeninspiringwomen #womensupportingwomen #genderequality #music #classicalmusic #femaleconductor #womenmakinghistory #sexualaesthetics #femaleartists #artbywomen #feminism #musicbywomen #booksbywomen #history #musicteacher #musiceducator

🎀 New evidence suggests that 3/5 of Mozart’s violin concertos were written by someone other than himself. Martin Jarvis, a professor at Charles Darwin University, believes that they may have been written by Mozart’s older sister, Nannerl.

🎀 There is so much that could and should be said about Nannerl and her life. We’ll focus more on her later 😏 but this is super fascinating to think about the motives behind why Mozart would have works credited to him but written by someone else.

🎀 I hope they were written by Nannerl! None of her other compositions have survived, so this would be a wonderful legacy for her.
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#womeninmusic #femalemusician #earlymusic #femalemusicians #womenmusician #femalecomposer #womancomposer #musichistory #inspirationalquotesfromwomen #pianomusic #classicalpiano #classicalvoice #womeninspiringwomen #womensupportingwomen #genderequality #music #classicalmusic #femaleconductor #womenmakinghistory #sexualaesthetics #femaleartists #artbywomen #feminism #musicbywomen #booksbywomen #history #mozart #nannerl #wolfgamadeusmozart #violinconcerto

🎀 Song Without Words, Op. 6: No. 1, Lied. Andante espressivo, H-U 454

Written by Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel, Felix Mendelssohn’s sister.
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#womeninmusic #femalemusician #earlymusic #femalemusicians #womenmusician #femalecomposer #womancomposer #musichistory #inspirationalquotesfromwomen #pianomusic #classicalpiano #classicalvoice #womeninspiringwomen #womensupportingwomen #genderequality #music #classicalmusic #femaleconductor #womenmakinghistory #sexualaesthetics #femaleartists #artbywomen #feminism #musicbywomen #booksbywomen #history #fannymendelssohn #mendelssohn #felixmendelssohn #songswithoutwords

Discovered Sally Beamish’s ‘No, I Am Not Afraid’ a couple nights ago in the wee hours of the morning. It was written while she was expecting her first child.

🎀 The poetry, written by Russian poet Irina Ratushinskaya, was smuggled out of the Russian prison she was being held in because of anti-soviet propaganda.

🎀Two artists coming together to create art about the female experience— inspiring.

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#womeninmusic #femalemusician #earlymusic #femalemusicians #womenmusician #femalecomposer #womancomposer #musichistory #inspirationalquotesfromwomen #pianomusic #classicalpiano #classicalvoice #womeninspiringwomen #womensupportingwomen #genderequality #music #classicalmusic #femaleconductor #womenmakinghistory #sexualaesthetics #femaleartists #artbywomen #feminism #musicbywomen #booksbywomen #history #sallybeamish #irinaratushinskaya #britishmusic #russianpoetry

This might be silly & weird NOW, but this was widely believed 🫠 by both men & women 🫠🫠🫠🫠🫠
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#womeninmusic #femalemusician #earlymusic #femalemusicians #womenmusician #femalecomposer #womancomposer #musichistory #inspirationalquotesfromwomen #pianomusic #classicalpiano #classicalvoice #womeninspiringwomen #womensupportingwomen #genderequality #music #classicalmusic #femaleconductor #womenmakinghistory #sexualaesthetics #femaleartists #artbywomen #feminism #musicbywomen

Sexual aesthetics in classical music: a very, very brief overview of a very, very big topic.
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#womeninmusic #femalemusician #earlymusic #femalemusicians #womenmusician #femalecomposer #womancomposer #musichistory #inspirationalquotesfromwomen #pianomusic #classicalpiano #classicalvoice #womeninspiringwomen #womensupportingwomen #genderequality #music #classicalmusic #femaleconductor #womenmakinghistory #sexualaesthetics #femaleartists #artbywomen #feminism

Talking about Lili & Nadia & Pie Jesu— one of the most powerful & heartfelt songs ever written, imo 🧡
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#womeninmusic #femalemusician #earlymusic #femalemusicians #womenmusician #femalecomposer #womancomposer #musichistory #inspirationalquotesfromwomen #pianomusic #classicalpiano #classicalvoice #womeninspiringwomen #womensupportingwomen #genderequality #music #classicalmusic #femaleconductor #harpsichord #womenmakinghistory #boulangersisters #piejesu #liliboulanger #nadiaboulanger #frenchmusic #prixderome

Nadia 💕
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#womeninmusic #femalemusician #earlymusic #femalemusicians #womenmusician #femalecomposer #womancomposer #musichistory #inspirationalquotesfromwomen #pianomusic #classicalpiano #classicalvoice #womeninspiringwomen #womensupportingwomen #genderequality #music #classicalmusic #femaleconductor #harpsichord #womenmakinghistory #nadiaboulanger #boulangersisters #quote #inspirationalquote

ELISABETTA DE GAMBORINI. 🇬🇧 A London-born singer, keyboardist & composer. Started out as a beloved performer of Handel’s oratorios— then wrote 3 (!!!) volumes of music for harpsichord that were ALL published! She was most likely the first woman in England to have her music published. At her concerts she would also feature her original works. Love that. A very accomplished lady who was recognized for her talent, discipline & contributions.
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#womeninmusic #femalemusician #earlymusic #femalemusicians #womenmusician #femalecomposer #womancomposer #musichistory #inspirationalquotesfromwomen #pianomusic #classicalpiano #classicalvoice #womeninspiringwomen #womensupportingwomen #genderequality #music #classicalmusic #femaleconductor #britishmusic #britishhistory #englishmusic #elisabetta #handel #handeloratorio #harpsichord #womenmakinghistory

CAROLINE WUIET. A French composer and writer who had a very sad life. I can’t find any of her music anywhere… I’ll keep looking for it though! She wrote so much music and had such an incredibly difficult life— this is why we need to keep women’s music in the repertoire! We can learn from their examples!
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#womeninmusic #femalemusician #earlymusic #femalemusicians #womenmusician #femalecomposer #womancomposer #musichistory #inspirationalquotesfromwomen #pianomusic #classicalpiano #classicalvoice #womeninspiringwomen #womensupportingwomen #genderequality #music #classicalmusic #femaleconductor #frenchmusic#operahistory #marieantoinette #frenchrevolution #caroline

💖 Composer Ethel Smyth
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#womeninmusic #femalemusician #earlymusic #femalemusicians #womenmusician #femalecomposer #womancomposer #musichistory #inspirationalquotesfromwomen #pianomusic #classicalpiano #classicalvoice #womeninspiringwomen #womensupportingwomen #genderequality #ethelsmyth #britishcomposer #britishhistory #inspirational #music #classicalmusic #britishmusic

Another edition to our ✨ inspirational ✨ quotes from female composers series. Just a little obsessed with her music, her legacy, & her wisdom 💝
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#womeninmusic #femalemusician #earlymusic #femalemusicians #womenmusician #femalecomposer #womancomposer #earlymusic #musichistory #catholichistory #hildegardvonbingen #hildegardofbingen #sainthildegard #catholicsaint #inspirationalquotesfromwomen #genderequality #womenshistory #womensrights #womenshistorymonth

MET OPERA + FEMALE COMPOSERS. The @metopera is world famous & a pillar in the classical music world. In 1903 they staged their first ever opera from a woman composer- Dame Ethel Smyth’s Der Wald. It wouldn’t be until 2016 that another opera written by a woman would be performed @kaijasaariaho … over 100 years later! Thankfully, they have commissioned works from female composer since @nezetseguin became the music director. And they performed @sarah_ruhl_ libretto of Eurydice last fall, which was pretty dang cool, too… lots of progress, but lots more that can still happen!
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#music #classicalmusic #womeninmusic #feminism #opera #symphony #piano #smartwomen #femalemusicians #femalecomposers #womenshistory #genderequality #ethelsmyth #dameethelsmyth #kaijasaariaho #derwald #lamourdeloin #metropolitanopera #metopera #newyorkcity #operahistory#femaleconductor #femaleconductors

We’ve all been there. And Fanny understood this better than most! (we love her 💕) It can be hard to be taken seriously as a woman in the classical music industry. But we’re grateful that Fanny kept writing despite her many obstacles !
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#music #classicalmusic #womeninmusic #feminism #opera #symphony #piano #smartwomen #fannymendelssohn #fannymendelssohnhensel #felixmendelssohn #femalecomposers #femalehistory #womeninhistory #womenshistory #womenhistory #womencomposers #womenwhowork #genderequality #inspirationalquote

I’m sure these ratios are better than they were 100 years ago, but i think we can all agree that even moooore music from female composers needs to start being regularly programmed 🤗
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#music #classicalmusic #womeninmusic #feminism #opera #symphony #piano #smartwomen #franzliszt #classicalpiano #history #womenshistory #bostonpops #philadelphiaorchestra #newyorkphilharmonic #symphonicmusic #amybeach #florenceprice #marydickensonauner #emiliemayer #allapavlova #libbylarsen #genderequality

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@womenofopera

WOMEN of OPERA

"I feel I must fight for my music because I want women to turn their minds to big and difficult jobs, not just to go on hugging the shore, afraid to put out to sea." - Ethel Smyth, composer

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