Cathy Berberian and Music's Muses

Cathy Berberian and Music's MusesThis richly illustrated anthology (containing more than 120 photographs and images) heralds the 25th anniversary of the demise of Cathy Berberian. The celebrated mezzo soprano, composer, polyhistor and artistic non conformist died in March 1983 at the age of 57. Jennifer Paull paints her close friends portrait with perceptive detail and personal reminiscences analysing Berberians unique standpoint. Paull applies Berberian's comparativist perspective

This richly illustrated anthology (containing more than 120 photographs and images) heralds the 25th anniversary of the demise of Cathy Berberian. The celebrated mezzo-soprano, composer, polyhistor and artistic non-conformist died in March 1983 at the age of 57. Jennifer Paull paints her close friendÕs portrait with perceptive detail and personal reminiscences analysing BerberianÕs unique standpoint. Paull applies Berberian's comparativist perspective to exploring a miscellany of MusicÕs fascinating facts, stimulating surprises and other musicians who are quintessentially 'different'. The role of the woman, the lack of division between the Arts; dance, design, fashion, imagination, humour, languages, theatre and wit: these, her eclectic components, shaped the borderless artistic landscape of Cathy Berberian into an ingenious philosophy herein elucidated, illustrated and applied. Cathy BerberianÕs due stature in the History of Music has yet to be fully recognised and sufficiently appreciated.