"Castafiore is a woman of very modern freedom and independence."

Published on May 24, 2025 at 11:00 a.m.

Caricature of Castafiore (anonymous). Exhibited at the Nevers Library in Charleville-Mézières, March 23-31, 1990. NEWS, FRIENDS OF HERGÉ, NO. 11, JUNE 1990, P. 37. COURTESY OF THE EDITORIAL ASSOCIATION.

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Interview: Jean-Jacques and Renaud Nattiez have published a wonderful book about music in the Tintin albums. From "The Jewels' Song" to "The Marine Boys," it's everywhere.

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Tintin and alcohol, Tintin and animals, cars, boats, trains, women, philosophy, dreams, laughter, science, cities – and even depression: Hergé's work has been the subject of books all over the place, but surprisingly, there was not one on music. Two brothers are trying to "humbly fill" this gap: Jean-Jacques Nattiez, musicologist, author of an essay on "Proust the musician" (Presses Universitaires de Montréal, 2024) that is fast becoming a classic, and Renaud Nattiez, former diplomat, author of nine books on his childhood hero, including a biography of Snowy. In addition to being intellectually sound (the duo draws on reference articles and biographers of the Castafiore), "Hergé the musician?" » is a lovely book: beautifully illustrated, crossed in places with musical staves to show how Hergé reinvented half notes and eighth notes according to his whim.

How did you come up with this great idea?

Jean-Jacques Nattiez Initially, I was asked to write an article on Castafiore for " Opéra", a Quebec opera magazine, but very quickly, while rereading the albums, I realized that it was necessary to broaden the subject and deal not only with the diva but also with music as a whole. I wrote an article that was too long for this magazine, which I then sent to Presses de...

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