Located in the UK
Located in the USA
Located in Europe
- Betsy Jolas
Ces belles années… (2022)
- Alphonse Leduc (World)
Commissioned by London Symphony Orchestra, Festival International d’Art Lyrique d’Aix en Provence and The Cleveland Orchestra; Franz Welser-Möst, Music Director. With the support of Diaphonique, Franco-British fund for classical contemporary music in partnership with the SACEM, the Friends of the French Institute Trust, the British Council, the Institut français, the Institut français du Royaume-Uni, the Centre national de la musique, Creative Scotland and the Salabert Fondation
- 3(III:afl,pic).3(III:ca).3(III:bcl).3/3.3.3.1/timp.4perc/hp/str
- Soprano
- 12 min
Scores
Reviews
...this quirky piece was full of musical half-allusions, although often fragmented and veiled by modernist textures with a constant jingle of percussion. Halfway through, a soprano, Faustine de Monès, entered the hall, waved to the audience, waved to [Simon] Rattle (who waved back) and proceeded to sing a string of affable French greetings with many florid melismas. That was all written into the score, as were the moments when the orchestra burst into rhythmic clapping, or stamped their feet, or — at the end — roared with laughter. Perhaps Jolas had Thomas Campion’s words in mind: “All our pride is but a jest.”
It felt extraordinary to hear probing, vital new work from a figure who grew up in inter-war Paris surrounded by the great names – Joyce, Hemingway etc – whom her parents published in transition magazine. ...Expressively sung, the text speaks of memories that bring joy as time passes and new generations rise.