Presented by: Nicholas Capozzoli
Location: Hyatt Regency – Inman
Olivier Messiaen’s music has been extensively discussed by scholars and performed by organists; however, works of his first wife, Claire Delbos, are still shrouded in obscurity. Biographers have highlighted Delbos’s tragic deterioration and premature death, which although critical to uncovering Messiaen’s personal life, neglects the full scope of her own career.
Capozzoli introduces her extant music, written for and premiered by Messiaen at La Trinité. He will speculate on Delbos’s use of the instrument, the role that her husband may have played in its conception, and her unique style stemming from thematic borrowing, rhythm, and registration. As a result of archival research, he will also share new insights into her unpublished music as well as forgotten aspects of her relationship with Messiaen. Through a combination of biographical details and musical analysis, this workshop will shed light on a female personality deserving more attention from scholars, organists, and audiences.