Type: Interview
Language: Greek
Year of Publication: 1988
Description:
In an interview with Διαβάζω magazine in February 1988, Yorgos Sicilianos discussed the interplay between poetry and music. He explained that while poetry is an independent art form providing intellectual and aesthetic enjoyment to readers, it becomes an intellectual stimulus and a challenge for a composer. When poetry is transformed into a song, it loses much of its original autonomy, becoming part of the music and appealing to the listener rather than the reader. Sicilianos highlighted that the music’s focus shifts to its melody and rhythm, making the lyrics’ literal meaning less significant to the audience, much like how listeners can appreciate a Lied by Schubert or Schumann without understanding the language.
Sicilianos also addressed the relationship between music and literature, particularly when a literary work inspires a musical piece. In such cases, it is not the words themselves but the underlying message and emotion that are transformed into music. This process results in programmatic music, such as symphonic poems or overtures, where the literary narrative is suggested by the music’s title and themes. Sicilianos pointed out that some operas, like Verdi’s La Traviata and Otello, are adaptations of well-known plays and maintain the original’s essence while being tailored to suit the operatic form. He noted that exceptions exist, such as Debussy’s Pelléas et Mélisande, where the original play is almost entirely preserved in the opera, reflecting a closer relationship to the original literary work.