KPFA-FM Music Dept. ➔ Bettina Jonič on Dylan and Brecht, 1 of 2
Analog Audio
Event Type
Interview and MusicOrigin
KPFAIdentifier
AM.1976.03.31.AProgram Length
54 minPart
1 of 2Dates
1976-03-31 | broadcast| 1976-03-31 | created
Description
On March 31, 1976, on the last day of a KPFA fundraising marathon, Bettina Jonič was interviewed by Charles Amirkhanian, about her album “The Bitter Mirror,” which is a recording of her one-woman revue show featuring songs by Bob Dylan and Bertolt Brecht. Trained as a ballet dancer and opera singer, Ms. Jonič is also an actress and renowned interpreter of the Brechtian songbook, and has, in addition, collaborated extensively with dramatists Peter Brook and Samuel Beckett, among others. In this informative interview Ms. Jonič discusses her attempt to juxtapose the songs of Dylan and Brecht, in the hopes that the marked similarity of their politics would bridge the chasm of time and style that separated these two great purveyors of 20th century protest poetry. Ms. Jonič, also talks at length about Brecht and his musical collaborators, Hanns Eisler, Paul Dressau, and Kurt Weill, as well as her deep appreciation and personal friendship with Samuel Beckett.Genres
Music TheaterPopular music
Musical Selections
The Black-hats' Fight Song [excerpt, text by Bertolt Brecht] (1:41) -- North Country Blues (3:32) / Bob Dylan -- Song of the Invigorating Effect of Money [text by Bertolt Brecht] (5:49) / Hanns EislerPerformers
Bettina Jonič, vocalsSubjects
Music theaterPopular music
Songs with instrumental ensemble
Related places
Berkeley (Calif.) (was recorded at)Berkeley (Calif.) (was broadcast at)
Related Entities
Amirkhanian, CharlesJonič, Bettina
Dylan, Bob, 1941-
Brecht, Bertolt, 1898-1956
Eisler, Hanns, 1898-1962