The Lady in the Moonlight by Yorgos Sicilianos - A Look At The Composer’s Workshop

Abstract or Summary:

The article provides an in-depth examination of Yorgos Sicilianos’ composition “The Lady of the Moonlight” (Op. 41), highlighting its intricate connection to Yiannis Ritsos’ poetic monologue “The Moonlight Sonata.” Sicilianos composed the piece for mezzo-soprano, narrator, clarinet, viola, and guitar between October 1976 and May 1977, premiering it in Athens in 1978. A symphonic version followed in 1979 but was not staged theatrically until its concert performance in 1988. The initial version was staged in 1991 by the Open Theatre’s Lyric Workshop. The article underscores Sicilianos’ meticulous integration of Ritsos’ text with music, retaining the poetic nuances and enhancing expressive depth through sophisticated musical techniques.

Sicilianos’ approach involved detailed annotations and structural parallels with Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata,” referenced by Ritsos. Sicilianos blends classical twelve-tone techniques and free melodic movement to create a seamless fusion of text and music. He employs Erasmian pronunciation to maintain the ancient Greek metrical structure. The article also describes Sicilianos’ focus on the expressive potential of musical intervals and the rhythmic nature of the text. His work demonstrates a balance between strict serial techniques and freer melodic gestures, culminating in a poetic transformation of Ritsos’ words through music. Despite its challenges, “The Lady of the Moonlight” remains exemplary for its complex texture and innovative interpretation of the relationship between music and text.

An abbreviated version of this article forms part of the English supplement at the end of this volume (page 269-271).