Episode 6: Betsy Jolas interview

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
Twitter
Instagram
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



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