Betsy Jolas Recordings

Betsy Jolas was a member of Messiaen’s class early in his teaching career (during the 1940s), and his assistant towards the end, from 1971 to 74. She succeeded him as Professor of Analysis at the Paris Conservatoire in 1975, and of Composition in 1978. Her creative
longevity far exceeds this period, and she continues to produce new work: her piano concerto bTunes was premiered at the BBC Proms in September 2022, and London was also the location for the first performance – by Laurence Allix – of her Chanson d’Approche, written 50 years earlier. Like Messiaen, Jolas is a melodist, albeit with a
more fluid style, the spatial notation in this instance giving the pianist the freedom to mould the lines rhythmically within given pockets of time.

[photo©Coupannec/leemage]