Betsy Jolas is one of the most significant composers of her generation, and remains a vital force in contemporary European music. Now in her 90s, she continues to create a steady stream of important new works. Jolas’s substantial catalogue is known for its subtle lyricism, depth, and refinement; yet it is also informed by a staggering erudition, and highly personal view of the history of music. The daughter of Eugène and Maria Jolas, publishers of the influential literary magazine Transition, she was close to many key modernist figures — painters, writers, musicians— throughout the 20th century: James Joyce (whom she knew as a girl), Edgard Varèse, Henri Dutilleux, Pierre Boulez, Karlheinz Stockhausen, Joan Mitchell and many others, some of whom are mentioned in this interview.
We freely discussed the following topics:
• Her recent collaboration with Simon Rattle and the Berlin Philharmonic
• Her studies with Darius Milhaud and Olivier Messaien
• Postwar musical life in Paris
• Her relationship with Pierre Boulez and the Domaine Musical
• Writing for the voice
• Being a female composer in the postwar period and beyond
• The technicalities of harmony and harmonic rhythm
• The conception of Quatuor II, one of her most celebrated works
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LINKS
YouTube channel
Official Website
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Edition Impronta, publisher of Samuel Andreyev’s scores
Betsy Jolas on Soundcloud
View the video of our discussion
EPISODE CREDITS
Spoken introduction: Maya Rasmussen
Podcast artwork photograph © 2019 Philippe Stirnweiss