Lucia Joyce, an opera dedicated to James Joyce's daughter

On the eve of Bloomsday, the Embassy hosted a concert presentation of an opera dedicated to Lucia Joyce. Lucia was a promising dancer in late-20’s Paris and James Joyce only daughter.

As part of our weekend of Bloomsday celberations, the Embassy had the pleasure of welcoming New-York and Paris-based composer Patrick Zimmerli and his artists for a concert presenting his four-act chamber opera dedicated to the dramatic life of Lucia Joyce.

Born in 1907, Lucia was a talented dancer, writer and musician. Her career was cut short after she had a nervous breakdown and was diagnosed with schizophrenia. She spent the rest of her life in institutions where she was subjected to experimental treatments.

Patrick Zimmerli has transcribed this dramatic story through his opera, Lucia Joyce. The work includes musical references to 1920s Paris, when Lucia was living in the city, through the addition of the saxophone and references to the music of the time.

The guests had the pleasure of listening to singers Megan O'Neill (Lucia Joyce), Laurent Naouri (James Joyce) and Eléonore Gagey (Nora Joyce), accompanied by Philip Richardson on piano and Nick Roth on saxophone.