FLINDERS QUARTET
Thibaud Pavlovic-Hobba • violin
Wilma Smith • violin
Helen Ireland • viola
Zoe Knighton • cello
with Ashlyn Tymms • mezzo soprano
AGATHA YIM, POLYPHONIC PICTURES filming and editing
THOMAS GRUBB, MANO MUSICA sound engineering, editing and mastering
Filmed May 2022 in the Primrose Potter Salon, Melbourne Recital Centre, Wurundjeri Country/Southbank
MELODY EÖTVÖS (1984-)
“Hope. Fear. Anything.” (composed 2022)
Commissioned by John and Irene Garran
I. Introduction
II. Valedictions
III. À Charles Thierry
IV. Dimanche
V. Interlude
VI. À Florence Jeans
VII. Salutations
“Camille Claudel: such a remarkable woman was living in a remarkable age. Perhaps not so remarkable for women, however, since conventional society was still paternal and rigid in its view of acceptable behaviour for women.
Claudel chartered her course showing all those personal characteristics mentioned by her peers. Writer Henry de Braisne said of her that she “led the way for a more enlightened treatment of women in the art world”. Writer and critic Mathias Morhardt (who bought Claudel’s sculpture La Vague) had this to say of her:
Silent and diligent, she remains seated upon her chair. She hardly hears the long chatter of idle people around her. Preoccupied only by her task, she kneads clay and models the foot or the hand of a figurine placed in front of her. Sometimes she raises her head. She looks at the visitor with her big clear eyes, whose gaze is so quizzical and, I should say, so persistent. The she returns immediately to her interrupted task.
This work takes selected texts from Camille Claudel’s Correspondences and sets them in a string of movements that bond across and throughout the entire work. After having spent such a long period of time connecting with Claudel’s letters in the original French (and so with my past love of the language), it became an almost impossible task to choose and settle on a comparatively small selection for this composition. Consequently I know my work with setting her words and thoughts is far from done! In this song cycle, however, I chose two texts that focus on her parents, and a selection of salutations and valedictions that span the 68 years of her recorded letters.”
-- Melody Eötvös
Movement I: Introduction
[no text]
Movement II: Valedictions
Let me hear from you very soon if you have the time. All yours.
Best wishes for the New Year.
With all my respect,
I kiss you. Above all, don't be unfaithful to me again.
My thanks.
Awaiting your reply, I extend my best greetings to you.
Besides, I am feeling better now, thank you.
Dear Sir, please accept my sincere thanks…
Please accept, I beg you, the expression of my friendship.
Please accept, Sir, the expression of my deepest gratitude.
Movement III - À Charles Thierry
My dear Charles
You inform me of Papa's death; this is new to me, no one has told me anything about this. When did it happened? Try to find out and give me some details. Poor Papa, he never knew me as I really am; he was led to believe that I was an evil creature, ungrateful and wicked; It was necessary so that the other could take it all.
I had to disappear as quickly as I could, and although I make myself as small as possible in my small corner, I am still in the way. They have already tried to lock me up in a madhouse for fear that I will harm little Jacques, and claim my rights. This is what would happen, if I had the misfortune to set foot there. Louise has got her hands on all the family's money through the protection of her friend Rodin, and as I always need a little money, however little it may be, I certainly need a little, I am the one who gets hated, when I ask for it. These things are done on purpose, because you know, Louise's interests lie with the Protestants.
Movement IV - Sunday
Sunday.
My dear Paul,
Yesterday, Saturday, I have received the fifty francs that you kindly send me and will be very useful I assure you. You see how difficulties may there are in this asylum and who knows if it will not be even worse some time from now.
I am very upset to hear that you are still suffering, let's hope that it will gradually get better. I await the visit you promised me for next summer but I don't expect it, Paris is far and God knows what will happen by then?
The reality is that they try to force me to sculpt here, as they don't succeed, they make all kinds of troubles for me. This will not convince me, on the contrary.
Movement V: Interlude
[no text]
Movement VI - À Florence Jeans
Your favourite virtue. I don't have any: they are all boring
Your favourite qualities in a man. To obey his wife
Your favourite qualities in a woman. To make her husband fret
Your favourite occupation. To do nothing
Your chief characteristics. Caprice and inconstancy
Your idea of happiness. To marry General Boulanger
Your idea of misery. To be the mother of numerous children
Your favourite colour and flower. The colour that changes most and the flower that does not change
If not yourself who would you be. A carriage horse in Paris
Where would you like to live. In the heart of Monsieur Wilson
Your favourite prose authors. Monsieur Pellerin author of the famous images
Your favourite poets. The one who does not write verse
Your favourite painter and composer. Myself
What is your current state of mind. It is too difficult to tell.
Movement VII - Salutations
I have such misfortune with you for each time you do me the honour of visiting me, I find myself absent.
Thank you for the encouragement you give me.
Since I have nothing to do, I write to you again.
Although I don't have the honour of knowing you, I am writing to you with a request.
You bring me great joy by telling me that you succeeded in ................ for me my little my little my little.
French-English translation by Floride Pavlovic