Yvonne Quinzii

Yvonne Quinzii (1940–2003) was a French soprano, choral conductor, librettist, and composer known for her contributions to contemporary music and children’s choral works. A graduate of the Conservatoire de Paris, she developed her skills in vocal performance and choral direction, which she applied extensively in her collaborations with her husband, composer Gérard Garcin.

Quinzii co-authored several notable works with Garcin, including Les Chansons de Mothy et Crocky Volume 2, a collection of pieces for children’s choirs aged 5 to 12, arranged for one to three voices with piano accompaniment or a cappella. She also wrote libretti for Garcin’s Prélude pour Hamelin (1994), a piece for cello quartet, and Les Trois Sœurs (1995), which premiered on October 6, 1995, in Charleville-Mézières with mezzo-soprano Isabel Soccoja and the Agora Trio.

Her involvement with the Festival d’Avignon included serving as choir director for the MC2 d’Avignon during performances of Messe Pour un XVIIème dimanche du temps ordinaire and Messe d’Avignon, both composed by Garcin, with the latter performed in the early 1980s under the musical direction of Jean-Pierre Dupuy. She also co-authored the musical tale Jean de Mahleni ou il était une fois à Hamelin with Guy Prunier, Gérard Garcin, and Bernard Lebon, published in 1998.

Quinzii’s work highlights her dedication to contemporary musical expression and her commitment to creating accessible formats for young performers and audiences, leaving a significant mark on the French music scene.

Sources: Di-Arezzo Music & Festival d’Avignon