A clown’s journey

3 Х 7

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.60056/CCL.2021..93-98

Keywords:

dodecaphony, lyrics, translation, Symbolism, Schönberg, melodrama, singing

Abstract

A clown travels through times and identities. A personage is handed over to different creators and audiences. A voice changes its purpose. This article observes the metamorphoses of Pierrot from Commedia dell’arte through the romantic malheureux, the decadent Dandy to the perpetual loser and peace-seeker of the turn of the century, following the works of three authors: Giraud, Hartleben, and Schönberg. When and where is this journey going to end? – We don’t know.

Author Biography

  • Natalia Afeyan, New Bulgarian University

    Natalia AFEYAN [Наталия АФЕЯН] was born in Sofia. She graduated from the Bulgarian State Conservatory in the vocal class of Prof. Resa Koleva. She was a full-time soloist (mezzo-soprano) at the opera houses of Sofia, Plovdiv, the Chamber Opera – Blagoevgrad, and Victoria State Opera in Melbourne, Australia. Her repertoire includes over 20 roles, including Hänsel (Humperdink’s Hänsel und Gretel), Carmen (Bizet), Amneris and Azucena (Verdi’s Aida and Il trovatore), Mother (Stravinsky’s Mavra)... Her concert repertoire is dominated by music of the twentieth century. She is the first performer in Bulgaria of Schönberg's Pierrot lunaire, having accomplished over 30 performances within 35 years in many countries over the world. She has also premiered vocal-instrumental cycles by Stravinsky, Luciano Berio, Otorino Respighi... She is highly regarded as an interpreter of Mahler, Richard Strauss and others, but has also performed many times in Verdi's Requiem, Mozart's Requiem, Pergolesi's Stabat Mater, Händel's Messiah, Bach's cantatas. Since 1991 she has lived and worked in Melbourne, Australia. At Melbourne State Opera, she performed Azucena from Il trovatore, Amneris from Aida, Nicklaus / The Muse from Jacques Offenbach's Tales of Hoffmann, Carmen by Bizet. Since 1995 she has been a full-time lecturer at the Victorian College of the Arts in Melbourne. The subjects she taught were solo singing and interpretation; vocal ensembles – opera and concert-oratorio; acting for singers. Her students have won awards at prestigious national and international competitions. She currently teaches at New Bulgarian University in Sofia.

References

Arnold Schoenberg. (n.d.). Pierrot lunaire, op. 21 – Studienpartitur (U.E. 5334; U.E. 5336). Universal Edition.

UNEARTHING THE MUSIC. (2021, May 6). On the Experimental Studio For Contemporary Music (Bulgaria).

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Published

2025-11-06

Issue

Vol. 7 (2021)

Section

II. DE LA MUSIQUE…

License

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How to Cite

A clown’s journey: 3 Х 7. (2025). Colloquia Comparativa Litterarum, 7, 93-98. https://doi.org/10.60056/CCL.2021..93-98