Ashley Abbott Casting When was the role cast? Eileen Davidson originated the role of Ashley Abbott in June 1982, Who got that role? Eileen Davidson
Did she stay for the duration of the show?
Did Eileen Davidson stay for the duration of the show?
Eileen Davidson originated the role of Ashley Abbott in June 1982, until her first exit on December 2, 1988. The role was immediately recast with Brenda Epperson, who portrayed Ashley for seven years from December 5, 1988 before leaving the role on December 21, 1995. Shari Shattuck then assumed the role from March 12, 1996 to February 22, 1999, with Davidson returning on March 19, 1999. Davidson took maternity leave in the summer of 2003. In 2006, news broke that Davidson was to exit the soap opera, and she last aired on January 11, 2007. She then carried the role of Ashley over to the show's sister soap, The Bold and the Beautiful. She last aired on The Bold and the Beautiful on July 4, 2008, before returning to The Young and the Restless on September 25, 2008.  In May 2012, Davidson informed followers on her Twitter page that she had been let go from The Young and the Restless. Davidson further confirmed she did not know why she was let go, but was seeing the positive light from it. It was then announced by Nelson Branco that Sony Pictures Entertainment wanted Davidson on both The Young and the Restless and Days of Our Lives, but that Y&R would not share the actress, leading to Sony terminating her contract with the soap. Thus it was announced that Davidson would reprise her role as Kristen Blake on the NBC soap. Davidson made her onscreen exit on August 3, 2012. Speaking about her upcoming return to Days and departure from the show with TV Guide, Davidson stated: "What happened to me at Y&R was shocking -- I've been in this business a very long time and have never seen anything like it -- but it's not like I haven't been fired before." She also went on to say that "I was led to believe that I was fired, though it was a bad news-good news thing -- the bad news is Y&R is firing you, the good news is Days wants you." In February 2013, it was announced that Davidson would return to The Young and the Restless for "very special episodes" that would commemorate the show's 40th anniversary. In spite of this, the actress remained a part of Days of our Lives full-time.  In August 2013, following the announcement of Davidson's departure from Days of our Lives, it was announced that she would again reprise the role for three episodes airing in October, later returning for additional guest appearances. In June 2014, it was announced that Davidson had signed a two-year contract with The Young and the Restless to appear as a regular cast member again, and would return to the series in September. Davidson also revealed her contract would allow for her to continue making appearances on Days of Our Lives. CANNOTANSWER
Eileen Davidson originated the role of Ashley Abbott in June 1982, until her first exit on December 2, 1988.
Ashley Abbott is a fictional character from The Young and the Restless  and The Bold and the Beautiful, two American soap operas on the CBS network. She has been most notably portrayed by Eileen Davidson, who originated the role on June 11, 1982, before departing in 1988. Brenda Epperson portrayed Ashley from 1988 to 1995, before Shari Shattuck portrayed the role for the next three years, until Davidson's return on March 19, 1999. Davidson was nominated in 2003 for Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, and she later won that award in 2018.

The character is the daughter of Dina Mergeron and Brent Davis, although she believed John Abbott was her biological father until she reached adulthood. She has had relationships with various men throughout the years, most notably Steven Lassiter, Victor Newman, Blade Bladeson, Cole Howard and Brad Carlton. She has a daughter with Victor, Abby Newman. She is also known for her business contributions to her father's company, Jabot Cosmetics, much like her brother Jack. In 2006, it was announced that Davidson was to leave The Young and the Restless. She last appeared on January 11, 2007. Shortly after, the character crossed over to its sister soap, The Bold and the Beautiful. There, she became intertwined with the Forresters and Forrester Creations; she also had a romance with Ridge Forrester. She left The Bold and the Beautiful in 2008 and returned to The Young and the Restless, where she has since had relationships with Victor once again and Tucker McCall.

In May 2012, it was announced that Davidson was let go from The Young and the Restless, leading to her exit on August 3, 2012. Davidson initially hadn't known why, but it was reported later that Sony Pictures Television terminated her contract with the show for her to return to Days of Our Lives as Kristen DiMera, a character she had portrayed there over 14 years prior. Davidson made a brief return to The Young and the Restless in March 2013 for the soap's 40th anniversary. After subsequent guest appearances, Davidson returned to The Young and the Restless on September 3, 2014, as a series regular. In 2018, Davidson again exited the role; she returned in March 2019, following the installment of head writer Josh Griffith.

Casting
Eileen Davidson originated the role of Ashley Abbott on June 11, 1982, until her first exit on December 2, 1988. The role was immediately recast with Brenda Epperson, who portrayed Ashley for seven years from December 5, 1988, before leaving the role on December 21, 1995. Shari Shattuck then assumed the role from March 21, 1996, to February 22, 1999, with Davidson returning on March 19, 1999. Davidson took maternity leave in the summer of 2003. In 2006, news broke that Davidson was to exit the soap opera, and she last aired on January 11, 2007. She then carried the role of Ashley over to the show's sister soap, The Bold and the Beautiful. On September 25, 2008, Davidson returned to The Young and the Restless, and subsequently made one final appearance on The Bold and the Beautiful on November 25 of the same year when Ashley resigned from her position at Forrester Creations.

In May 2012, Davidson informed followers on her Twitter page that she had been let go from The Young and the Restless. Davidson further confirmed she did not know why she was let go, but was seeing the positive light from it. It was then announced by Nelson Branco that Sony Pictures Entertainment wanted Davidson on both The Young and the Restless and Days of Our Lives, but that Y&R would not share the actress, leading to Sony terminating her contract with the soap. Thus it was announced that Davidson would reprise her role as Kristen Blake on the NBC soap. Davidson made her onscreen exit on August 3, 2012. Speaking about her upcoming return to Days and departure from the show with TV Guide, Davidson stated: "What happened to me at Y&R was shocking — I've been in this business a very long time and have never seen anything like it — but it's not like I haven't been fired before." She also went on to say that "I was led to believe that I was fired, though it was a bad news-good news thing — the bad news is Y&R is firing you, the good news is Days wants you." In February 2013, it was announced that Davidson would return to The Young and the Restless for "very special episodes" that would commemorate the show's 40th anniversary. In spite of this, the actress remained a part of Days of our Lives full-time.

In August 2013, following the announcement of Davidson's departure from Days of our Lives, it was announced that she would again reprise the role for three episodes airing in October, later returning for a guest appearance on November 27 and December 2, 2013. In June 2014, it was announced that Davidson had signed a two-year contract with The Young and the Restless to appear as a regular cast member again, and would return to the series in September. Davidson also revealed her contract would allow for her to continue making appearances on Days of Our Lives.

In 2018, Julia D'Arcy Badinger portrayed a younger Ashley in flashbacks. That June, Daytime Confidential broke news that Davidson had quit the role. Davidson last appeared in the role on October 29, 2018. On February 25, 2019, Davidson announced she would return to the role for several appearances; first airing on March 29, 2019. Since then, she has remained on the show on a recurring status.

Character development
Davidson describes Ashley as a "dynamic character". She has been characterized as "sassy" yet an "honorable heroine". The Record describes Ashley as "headstrong". She is recognized for her unluckiness and long-term suffering. Davidson stated, "She is a heroine.  So often she was being victimized by people and trying to always rise above that, and being driven insane and losing babies, etc." In 1990, The Washington Times described Ashley as a "smart woman", known for her "level head" and "business success". Ashley is dedicated to her work and has a strong sense of family. She is a beloved member of the Genoa City community. Her passion for the family business, Jabot Cosmetics, cost Ashley her marriage to Cole Howard (J. Eddie Peck).

Ashley has been involved in a number of different romantic relationships over her duration on the series. Her relationship with Brad Carlton (Don Diamont) came as a shock, due to Brad being beneath her socially. Epperson, who played Ashley at the time, was uncertain of Ashley and Brad's decision to get married.

Davidson opined that a storyline in which Victor's son Adam Newman (Michael Muhney) gaslighted a pregnant Ashley in 2009 was payback for Ashley stealing Victor's sperm years ago to conceive Abby. She stated: "I think the character really suffered after she stole Victor's sperm from Diane [...] After that, the viewers lost a lot of respect for Ashley. People wanted Ashley to pay for it. My opinion? Although last summer's gaslighting storyline was used to propel a lot of other stories, it was also about making Ashley pay. Now we can close that entire chapter because Ashley paid. It was Ashley's redemption". Around this story arc, Tommy Garrett of Canyon News described Ashley as a "damsel in distress", stating that she had a "twisted mind" due to suffering a hysterical pregnancy after losing her unborn child at the hands of Adam.

Following the death of John, Jack works desperately to remove his wife Gloria Abbott (Judith Chapman) from the family, even illegally making changes to John's will. Explaining Ashley's ambivalence towards the situation, Davidson stated: "Just because you don't like somebody doesn't mean you should do something illegal [...] The point is, their father loved her. And even if they don't like her, they have to honor what he wanted. Ashley never wanted to do anything that went against her father's wishes." The actress stated that Ashley "just wants" Jack to "do the right thing".

Storylines 
Ashley is born on April 29, 1960, to John Abbott, Sr. (Brett Halsey, later Jerry Douglas) and Dina Abbott Mergeron (Marla Adams). Twenty-two years later, after completing college, Ashley returns to Genoa City and applies for a job as a lab chemist at Jabot Cosmetics, the family company, using the name Susan Ashley so she will be hired for her skills, not her family connections. She takes over as president of the company after her brother Jack Abbott (Terry Lester, later Peter Bergman) is shot on his one-year anniversary by his wife, Patty Williams. Ashley commences an unlucky streak of relationships; starting with French artist Eric Garrison, who slept with her mother, and Marc Mergeron, who is revealed to be her former stepbrother. Capitalizing on her unluckiness, it is revealed that Ashley's biological father is Brent Davis, not John Abbott, who remains unaware of Ashley's true paternity. Trauma leads Ashley to become missing with amnesia, where she is found by business tycoon Victor Newman (Eric Braeden), who takes her back to Genoa City. Ashley has an affair with Victor, who is married to Nikki Newman (Melody Thomas Scott). To spite Ashley, Nikki engages in an affair with Jack and tries to have Victor's brother, Matt Miller, unsuccessfully seduce Ashley. Ultimately, Victor chooses to be with Ashley, angering Nikki. When Ashley falls pregnant with Victor's child, Nikki is diagnosed with cancer, causing Victor to leave Ashley, who secretly has an abortion. Ashley suffers a mental breakdown, before marrying her psychiatrist Steven Lassiter (Rod Arrants). Steven's former patient Leanna Randolph (Barbara Crampton) stalks the couple and attempts to destroy Ashley. She writes a biography about Victor that exposes information about his dysfunctional relationship with Ashley. Steven is later shot and killed by an unstable patient.

Following a short affair with Brad Carlton (Don Diamont), Ashley marries Victor. The marriage suffers because of Nikki's ongoing problems as well as Victor's daughter Victoria Newman's (Heather Tom) constant schemes to break them up. After her divorce from Victor, Ashley falls in love with Jabot's mysterious photographer Blade Bladeson (Michael Tylo), and they get married. Blade's vengeful twin brother Rick Bladeson arrives in town, holds Blade hostage and impersonates him. Eventually, Ashley and Blade's marriage ends. She then falls romantically for Kurt Costner (Leigh McCloskey), who is shot saving her from muggers. The romance is short-lived, as Kurt leaves Ashley to be with Victor's ex-wife Hope Wilson (Signy Coleman). Ashley nearly engages in an affair with Victoria's husband Cole Howard (J. Eddie Peck), an author who is writing a novel about her life, which requires them to spend time together. After Victoria's pregnancy results in a stillborn baby, Cole divorces her and marries Ashley. The marriage suffers a rough patch when Ashley travels to Madrid to help her stepbrother Rafael Delgado (Carlos Bernard), who is dealing with dangerous customers after selling them forged paintings. Cole assumes that she is having an affair with Rafael, unaware of who he is. During this, Victoria attempts to sabotage the marriage. Ultimately, upon Ashley's return to Genoa City, the couple divorce.

By 2000, one of Jack's former lovers and Victor's latest ex-wife, Diane Jenkins (Alex Donnelley) steals Victor's sperm from a sperm bank, though Nikki switches the sample with Jack's sperm. Ashley then steals Victor's sperm and impregnates herself, claiming that the father is a stranger; this was to make up for the abortion she had years prior. She then marries Brad Carlton and gives birth to Abby Carlton, who is raised to believe she is the daughter of Brad. Ashley is diagnosed with breast cancer, and feeling that she may not have time left, she confesses the truth about Abby's paternity to Victor. Brad and Ashley split, though are brought together when she becomes pregnant with their child. Stress over the battle between Jabot and Newman Enterprises causes her to leave town. While she is driving back, she is involved in a car accident, killing the unborn child. Victor is blamed for the child's death. Brad and Ashley's marriage continues to diminish and they are divorced. Tom Fisher (Roscoe Born), the dangerous ex-husband of John's wife Gloria Abbott (Judith Chapman), arrives in town. To protect his family, John shoots and kills Tom. Ashley covers this up by confessing to the crime herself, though John soon confesses himself, and is jailed for seven years. Gloria contaminates Ashley's new line of beauty cream, which causes a woman to die. John suffers a heart attack following his release from prison, and passes away. Jack removes Gloria from the family, and Ashley leaves town to escape the drama. During a business trip to France, Ashley meets Rick Forrester (Kyle Lowder), and they have an affair. She later travels to Los Angeles to work with Forrester Creations as a lab chemist. Rick and Ashley decide to keep their affair a secret, and she commences a serious relationship with Ridge Forrester (Ronn Moss), whom she becomes engaged to. Ridge's attentiveness to his former love Brooke Logan (Katherine Kelly Lang) ends the engagement. Ashley then has a short-lived romance with Brooke's brother Storm (William deVry). Forrester Creations decide to discontinue their fragrance line, diminishing Ashley's role in the company. She leaves Los Angeles and moves to Europe with Abby.

Ashley locates a missing Victor in France, where they reunite. Upon their return to Genoa City as a couple, they are married and Ashley becomes pregnant. Victor's manipulative son Adam Newman (Michael Muhney) gas lights Ashley, making her believe that she is seeing the ghost of Victor's late wife, Sabrina Newman. Adam causes Ashley to fall down a staircase and lose her baby, though he convinces her that this was a dream, and she suffers from an hysterical pregnancy. Ashley checks herself into a psychiatric hospital where Sharon Newman (Sharon Case), also pregnant, is staying. After Ashley begins experiencing hysterical labor, Adam kidnaps Sharon's newborn baby Faith Newman and gives her to Ashley, with Sharon believing her baby was stillborn. In the ensuing months, Sharon marries Adam and develops a close friendship with Ashley. Six months after Faith is born, the doctor that delivered her (who was being blackmailed by Adam) confesses the truth in a letter. Ashley is forced to hand Faith over to Sharon and the child's father, Victor's son Nicholas Newman (Joshua Morrow). Ashley moves on with her life, and becomes engaged to wealthy tycoon Tucker McCall (Stephen Nichols). Prior to their engagement, he slept with Diane Jenkins (Maura West). They briefly split up because of Tucker's secret business plans with Jack, but reunite shortly thereafter. Abby accidentally runs over Tucker with her car, and Ashley protects her by taking the blame. She is accused of attempted murder and driving under the influence. All charges are ultimately dropped, and she marries Tucker. Their marriage quickly lands in divorce because of Tucker's business scheming and his affair with a previous lover, Harmony Hamilton. Ashley is later forced out as CEO of Jabot by Jack, and Ashley decides to move to New York City with Traci. She returns briefly a few months later for the wedding of Victor and Nikki. Months later, Ashley returns for the funeral of her niece Delia Abbott and comforts her brother Billy on his loss. She returns later to spend Thanksgiving with her family. While there, she sprained her ankle and met Dr. Stitch Rayburn (Sean Carrigan). Abby pushed for a romance, but Ashley reminded her that Stitch was married and had a young son.

In town for Abby and Tyler's engagement party, Ashley left early to drop by the hospital and "run into" Dr. Rayburn. But she found Victoria waiting for him to take her on a date. Ashley reminded her that she'd only been separated a week. When Ben arrived, Victoria was jealously catty, informing Ben that Ashley was her former stepmother.

In September 2014, Ashley did not show up in Genoa City after calling a meeting among the major Jabot stockholders, Jack, Billy, Traci, and Abby. Jack phoned her, and she explained that she was working on a special project, but had decided it was not yet ready to present to them.

The following month, Ashley returned and confirmed that her idea was for a revolutionary new fragrance, and she made a deal with Jack to become Co-CEO of Jabot again if it panned out. Abby had been treating Ben Rayburn nasty and spiteful ever since she found out that he had killed his father as a teen and taken someone else's identity to get his degree in medicine, and broken Victoria's heart. So Abby was shocked when Ashley hired Ben as a chemist for Jabot, despite Abby's objections. Ashley returned to New York City to wrap things up, tasking a reluctant Abby with bringing Ben up to speed on the cosmetics industry. Before she left, she consoled Billy that maybe she could help keep Ben away from Victoria for him.

On Ashley's return, she asked Ben to smell the new fragrance, he found it repulsive, but he kissed her. Ashley revealed that the fragrance contained pheromones, was a love potion, and the kiss had proven it. What she needed was his help to make the scent bearable. Later after Ben was arrested for fraud by a former patient, Ashley bailed him out. She confided in Ben, that she too had taken a murder rap for someone she loved. Ashley asked him to accompany her to Madison on business.

Ben showed up in Ashley's office drunk after seeing Billy and Victoria snuggling with their baby. Ashley threw him in the shower to sober him up, and he pulled her in too. They had sex, and Stitch spent the night. The next day, they agreed to tell no one after Ben found out that he still had a chance with Victoria.

Victor invited Ashley to lunch and tried to get her to take a deal to leave Jabot and work for him at Newman-Chancellor. But Ashley declined and left early, arriving back at the lab in time to see her lab assistant Tobias taking photos of their secret work. She guessed that he was working for Victor, and decided to let him continue to feed him bogus information. Ashley runs into Joe Clark at the athletic club. After referring to them having a good thing going back in New York City, they made plans to spend New Year's Eve together. In May 2017, Ashley's mother Dina came for a "permanent" visit. In October 2017, Dina exposed that John Abbott wasn't Ashley's father. Ashley leaves Genoa City in October 2018, following a series of events that leave her feeling alienated from both the Abbott family and Jabot, following the discovery that John and Dina left legal documents leaving all of Ashley's product patents to her; she confesses she's leaving for Paris to launch her own company with said-patents.

Reception
Jamey Giddens of Zap2it described Davidson as "one of Genoa City's most beloved heroines". Upon learning of Davidson's return to the role in 1999, Candace Havens of the McCook Daily Gazette declared that it was her who made Ashley "one of the most popular characters on soaps". In October 1999, when all of the Abbott siblings and their father John were together again, the Orlando Sentinel wrote: "In the meantime, having the entire Abbott clan together [...] is like a joyous family reunion for longtime viewers". John Goudas of The Gadsden Times was favorable of Epperson's performance two years into her duration, stating that she "is holding her own", though he noted her to be "Eileen's double". He stated that the front-burner status of Ashley and Brad's romantic storyline demonstrated that producer William J. Bell "has full confidence in [Epperson]".

The character has had a rivalry with Nikki Newman (Melody Thomas Scott) for many years; a poll run in 2008 by website Daytime Confidential asking, "Who would win a cat fight, Nikki Newman or Ashley Abbott?", saw 63% of voters say Nikki would win, with 37% saying Ashley would win. Giddens was favorable of Ashley running Jabot Cosmetics in 2008, writing: "Okay this has to stop. My heart simply can't take it. It's like the effects of yo-yo dieting. Everytime I sincerely think I am done with this genre, something like The Young and the Restless heiress Ashley Abbott (Eileen Davidson) announcing that she, not Lil' Billy (Billy Miller), not Cruella de Bardwell (Judith Chapman) or Gary Ewing (Ted Shackelford) and no, not even Smilin' Jack (Peter Bergman) will be running Jabot Cosmetics, happens." In 2009, Jillian Bowe (also of Zap2it) wondered if Ashley was "insane in the membrane" due to her hearing a crying child around the Newman ranch, writing: "Is "The Beauty" starting to crack up? Certainly looks that when some freaky things take place on The Young and the Restless."

In 2010, Tommy Garrett of Canyon News praised a scene in which Ashley discovers a sex tape made by her spoiled daughter, Abby, that was posted online. Garrett wrote: "Davidson's performance is spot on as the mother Ashley who is fed up. The tears of despair and exhaustion came streaming down Davidson's beautiful face in character, while her spit-fire daughter didn't give a damn." Giddens later wrote that he thought it was "ridiculous" and "outlandish" to make Ashley pregnant with Victor's child in 2009. Also in 2010, Neeketa Borden of Zap2it created a list of "curiously quirky couplings", with Ashley and Tucker listed as an "honorable mention". In a separate review, Garrett credited Davidson as one of the "powerful performers who daytime TV could not exist without having". When the truth was going to come out that Faith Newman wasn't Ashley's child, Giddens wrote: "Lord, I hope this doesn't make my Ashley Abbott go cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs again!" Mike Jubinville of Zap2it wrote that the character's relationship with Neil Winters (Kristoff St. John) had been a "slow burn, one going on for weeks, but one that is hard to miss. It has the ingredients of a hot romance." Upon Davidson's firing in 2012, Giddens wrote: "I am sincerely hoping the brass at Y&R can't possibly be this stupid, but if they are, Gary Tomlin better blow up Davidson's phone STAT about a Days of Our Lives return!"

References

External links
Ashley Abbott character profile on SoapCentral

The Young and the Restless characters
The Bold and the Beautiful characters
Television characters introduced in 1982
Fictional business executives
Fictional female businesspeople
Fictional socialites
Fictional characters with cancer
Fictional characters with neurological or psychological disorders
Female characters in television
Ylva Q Arkvik (born 1961) is a prominent composer of contemporary classical music. She has written about 50 works for varying settings such as chamber ensemble, orchestra, choir, opera, theatre and electroacoustic music. Her works have been performed by Swedish ensembles and orchestras such as the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Kroumata, the Stockholm Saxophone Quartet and Musica Vitae.

Biography
Arkvik was born in Sweden. She studied musicology at Uppsala University and also studied to become a cantor at Uppsala Domkapitel and at the Royal Swedish Academy of Music. After graduating as a cantor she went on to study composition at the Royal College of Music, Stockholm for renowned composers Lars Ekström, Magnus Lindberg, Per Lindgren, Lars-Erik Rosell and Sven-David Sandström. In 2000 she earned her diploma in composition. In 2001 she was elected to the Society of Swedish Composers. Between 2011-2014 she was in the board of directors of the Association of Swedish Women Composers (KVAST) and during 2014 she was elected Chairman. Since 2010 she is in the board of directors of the International Society for Contemporary Music (ISCM).

Her music has been described as firmly rooted in the modernist tradition with a profoundly concentrated mode of expression, sometimes harsh and passionately intense.

Selection of compositions 

Orchestra
A challenge to humanity, cantata for mixed choir and wind orchestra, duration 28 min (2008). Written for the international music project Vox pacis, involving choirs and soloists from 15 different countries. First performance 22 Aug 2008 in the Blue Hall, Stockholm City Hall.
Tidsgömmor for 2 sopranos, mixed choir, orchestra and electronics, duration 22 min (2005). First performance 1 May 2006, Swedish Radio P2.
De som varit, de som ska komma, de som blev, for orchestra, duration 17 min (1999-2002). First performance August 2002, by the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, Stockholm Concert Hall.
Tid läggs som tunt papper över beröringarna, for string orchestra, duration 10 min (1997). First performance by Musica Vitae, Växjö.
Enigma 15, for orchestra, duration 14 min (1996). First performance 1996 at the Royal College of Music, Stockholm.

Chamber orchestra
Johannes Uppenbarelse, oratorio for mixed choir, chamber orchestra, organ and electronics. First premiered 17 March 2013, Högalid Church, Stockholm.

Opera
Barnet och de grå, for 2 sopranos and piano, percussion and alto saxophone, duration 19 min. Premiered 2 December 2007, Stockholm.
Du får inte gå, for soprano, mezzo-soprano, baryton and 11 instruments, duration 24 min (2002). Premiered 26 July 2002, Vadstena Castle.
Solitario, for 2 sopranos, 1 mezzo, 2 baryton, chamber orchestra and electronics, libretto Eva Runefelt, duration 50 min (1999). Premiered at the Plaza Theatre, Stockholm.

Choir
Psalm 142, for mixed choir, duration 3 min (2009). First performance 8 March 2010 at the Högalid Church, Stockholm.
En gång ska allt försvinna bort, for mixed choir, duration 4 min (1999). First performance November 1999 by Maria Magdalena Motettkör, Örebro.
Rata de ciudad, for mixed choir and 3 percussionists, duration 7 min (1997). First performance by Capella Kreuzberg at Emmauskirche, Berlin.

Pieces for ensembles
Lines from the future, for chamber ensemble, duration 9 min (1997). First performance by Sonanza, Stockholm. 
Cataract, for violin and electronics, duration 10 min (1996). First performance 31 March 2010, Kulturhuset, Stockholm.
Dona nobis pacem, theatre music, duration 90 min (1996). First performance 1996, Arbogaspelen in Arboga.
Pictures, for string quartet, duration 12 min (1995)., First performance 1995, Glashuset, Stockholm.
Qué, for saxophone quartet, duration 7 min (1995). First performance 1995 by the Stockholm Saxophone Quartet, Fylkingen, Stockholm.
Chiffer, for six percussionists, duration 8 min (1994). First performance 1994 by Kroumata, Helsingfors, Finland.

Pieces for 1-3 instruments
Leave me!, for oboe and percussion, duration 8 min (2004). First performance 8 December 2009, Stockholm. 
Cold and clear, for violin solo, duration 4 min (2003). First performance March 2003, Royal Swedish Academy of Music, Stockholm.
No comments, for alto saxophone and piano, duration 8 min (2003). First performance June 2003, Schwarzwald Festival of Music, Germany.
Skarpa, vassa, for violin solo, duration 9 min (2003). First performance March 2003, Royal Swedish Academy of Music, Stockholm. 
Gestures, for percussion solo, duration 8 min (1997). First performance 1997, Royal College of Music, Stockholm.
Esconderé, for flute solo, duration 5 min (1995). First performance 1995, Royal College of Music, Stockholm.

Piano solo
Capriccio quasi fantasia, for piano, duration 6 min (2010). First performance 27 Aug 2010, Berwaldhallen, Stockholm.
Spread it out, for piano and electronics, duration 15 min (2010). First performance 31 March 2010, Kulturhuset, Stockholm.
Dance with me!, for piano and electronics, 11 min (2003). First performance March 2003, St: Eskil Church, Stockholm.

Electronics, with or without instruments
Psalm 23 and 142, for electronics, 10 min (2009). First performance 29 April 2010, Heliga Trefaldighetskyrkan, Gävle.
Herre, var är du?, for electronics, 6 min (2009). First performance 8 March 2010, Högalid Church, Stockholm.
Jag ropar till Herren, for soprano and electronics, 3 min (2009). First performance 8 March 2010, Högalid Church, Stockholm. 
Tagel, for electronics and sounds, 13 min (20089. First performance 4 October 2008, Västerås Konserthus.
Restless wind, for violin and electronics, 10 min (2007). First performance 15 November 2007, Gävle.
Eko, for viola da gamba, lute, recorder and electronics, 6 min (2004). First performance November 2004, Växjö.
The day before…, for recorder and electronics, 8 min (2004). First performance November 2004, Växjö.
Andorien, for flute and electronics, duration 9 min (2002). First performance 2002, Johannebergskyrkan, Gothenburg.
Väsen, for cello and electronics, duration 10 min (1998). First performance in 1998, Västerås.
The power in between, for saxophone quartet and electronics, duration 10 min (1997). First performance 1997 by the Stockholm Saxophone Quartet, Royal College of Music, Stockholm.
Clou, for electronics, duration 6 min (1995). First performance 1995, Kulturhuset, Stockholm.

References

External links 
 Ylva Q Arkvik web page

Living people
21st-century classical composers
1961 births
20th-century classical composers
Contemporary classical music in Sweden
Swedish classical composers
Women classical composers
Swedish women composers
20th-century women composers
21st-century women composers
20th-century Swedish women Sylvie Bodorová (born 31 December 1954, České Budějovice) is a Czech composer. During a career spanning from the late 1970s to the present day she has composed a large number of works for various instruments, both solo and orchestral pieces, and produced commissions for cities, festivals and organisations around the world. She was a founder (and only surviving) member of the Czech classical group Quattro, formed in 1996.

Biography
Bodorová studied composition at the Janáček Academy of Music and Performing Arts (JAMU) in Brno and later as a post-graduate at the Music and Dance Faculty of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague. She continued her studies in Gdańsk and the Accademia Musicale Chigiana in Siena (with Professor Franco Donatoni) and from 1987 she attended Professor Ton de Leeuw's composition courses in Amsterdam. She taught at JAMU in Brno and, in the 1990s, at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, where she was visiting professor for the 1994–95 and 1995–96 academic years. In 1993 she had made her first visit to the United States for a week-long residency in the School of Fine Arts at Miami University, Ohio. The music library at the University of Cincinnati contains several of Bodorová's published scores, as well as copies of manuscript scores of her works.

Bodorová's works have been performed on every continent, including the Antarctic, where there was a performance of her "Homage to Columbus" for guitar in 1997. She has received several competition prizes (Mannheim, Czech Radio Prague) and several commissions from the Warwick Festival: Megiddo - Piano Trio - 2001, for the same festival -Terezin Ghetto Requiem - Škampa Quartet - 1998, "Ama me" for baritone and piano - 1999 and Vertumnus - Brass Quintet in 2005.

In 1999 she also wrote compositions for Buenos Aires – Concierto de Estío for Guitar and Orchestra – and for Bochum in Germany – Saturnalia for Orchestra. After the success of Terezín Ghetto Requiem, the Prague Spring International Music Festival commissioned the oratorio Juda Maccabeus for a performance in St. Vitus Cathedral (with Gabriela Beňačková, , Ivan Kusnjer and the Prague Philharmonic Choir) in May 2002 and then at the Litomyšl International Festival in June 2002. Concerto dei fiori for Violin and Strings was premiered at the Prague Spring Festival 1997, then performed in the United States in 1998 and the PONTES Festival in Prague.

Terezin Ghetto Requiem for Baritone and String Quartet was performed at the Warwick and Leamington Festival in July 1998, Wigmore Hall in London in October 1998, again in Warwick in July 1999, other festivals in UK, in Berlin (November 1999), in Halle (Saale), Terezín, at the Prague Spring Festival 2000, Coventry and Huddersfield (November 2000). In 2003 Bodorová finished a commission by the Tucson Winter Chamber Music Festival – a composition for Harp and Strings Mysterium druidum. She composed Rotationes for clarinet, violin, viola and cello for the same festival in 2012.

She finished the commission for Camerata Bern (Bern Concerto, Silberwolke) – Concerto for Violin, Viola and Strings, which was performed in Bern and Germany in August and September 2005. She wrote the piano concerto Come d'accordo for Prague Philharmonia and pianist , premiered in February 2006, the song cycle Slovak Songs for Štefan Margita and Gabriela Beňačková – the cycle was recorded in 2006 – and Amor tenet omnia – a cycle of choruses on the texts from Carmina Burana premiered in Luxembourg and France in August 2007.

The oratorio Moses was commissioned by the International Litomyšl Smetana Festival and premiered in 2008. In 2009 she wrote Carmina lucemburgiana for strings. It was commissioned by the Government of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and its embassy in Prague. In May 2012 Bodorová finished Lingua angelorum – a song cycle for baritone and large symphony orchestra inspired by Rudolf II. The composition was commissioned by and was dedicated to Thomas Hampson. She wrote the orchestral version of Dvořák's Gypsy Melodies, Op. 55, for Thomas Hampson and Wiener Virtuosen, which premiered at the Musikverein in Vienna in February 2013.

Bodorová was a member of Quattro, a group of Czech composers formed in 1996, also featuring Otmar Mácha (1922–2006), Luboš Fišer (1935–1999) and Zdeněk Lukáš (1928–2007). She is also involved in the restoration of Gustav Mahler's birthplace in Kaliště near Humpolec in the Czech Republic. She has also composed and arranged many compositions for children. Her music often features references to Johann Sebastian Bach's music (such as a quotation of his choral "Schmücke dich o liebe Seele" at the end of Concerto dei fiori and transcriptions of Preludium C moll from Wohl Temperiertes Klavier, Toccata D minor), and to Roma and Eastern European rhythms (her ancestors are from Hungary).

List of compositions

Operas 
The Legend of Catharine of Redern, commissioned by Reichenberg - Liberec Theater (2014), duration 120' premiere 19. XII. 2014

Orchestral and concerto works 

Plankty, Music for viola and symphonic orchestra (1982), duration 14'
The struggle with an Angel, Melodram for male voice and strings – also version for voice and string quartet – to the text of poem by Jaroslav Seifert (1982), duration 10'
Pontem video, Concerto for organ, strings and timpani (1983), duration 15'
Jubiloso, Festive music for chamber orchestra (1984), duration 8'
Tre canzoni da suonare for guitar and strings (1985), duration 17'
Panamody for flute and strings (1986), duration 8'
Magikon for oboe and strings (1987), duration 10'
Messaggio, Concerto for violin and orchestra (1989), duration 16'
Dona nobis lucem, Concerto for soprano, violin, guitar and strings (1994), duration 11'
Concerto dei fiori, Concerto for violin and strings or piano (1996), duration 17'
Concierto de Estío for guitar and strings – also version for guitar and string quartet, duration 16'
Canzonetta d'amore for saxophon and strings (1999), duration 4'
Saturnalia for large orchestra (1999), duration 17'
Cantabile Amadeo for string orchestra (2001), duration 6'
Juda Maccabeus, Oratorio for soprano, tenor, baritone, three speakers, children choir, mixed choir and big symphony orchestra (2002), duration 73'
Mysterium druidum, Concerto for harp and strings – also version for harp and string quartet, dedicated to the harpist Kateřina Englichová (2003), duration 20'
Ave Noëlle – Christmas song for tenor or soprano and large orchestra (2003), duration 7'
Bern Concerto "Silberwolke", Concerto for violin, viola and strings (2005), commissioned and premiered by CAMERATA BERN, duration 18'
Terezín Ghetto Requiem for baritone and strings  (2005), duration 17'
Come d'accordo, Concerto for piano and orchestra (2006), commissioned by Prague Philharmonia, duration 21'
Vivat Mozart ! Hommage á Mozart for the Chateau Litomyšl for brass and percussion, commissioned by 48th International Music Festival Smetana's Litomyšl, duration 9'
Moses, Oratorio for soprano, tenor, baritone, two speakers, percussion, children and mixed choir and big symphony orchestra  (2008), commissioned and premiered by International Music Festival Litomyšl to the 50th anniversary, duration 78'
Karslbader Ouverture for symphony orchestra (2008), commissioned by Dvořák's Autumn Festival in Karlsbad to the 50th anniversary, duration 11'
Carmina lucemburgiana for Strings – To the memory of John the Blind (2009), commissioned by the Government of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and its Embassy in Prague, duration 16'
Kafkas Träume for Baritone and Orchestra (2010), commissioned by the Luxembourg Sinfonietta, duration 11',
Babadag Concertino for clarinet, percussion and strings (2010) duration 8'
Trebbia – Avanti, Ouverture for symphony orchestra (2010), duration 7'
Symphony No 1 "Con le campane"  for large orchestra (2011), duration 35'
Lingua angelorum – Song Cycle for Baritone and Symphony Orchestra inspired by Rudolf the Second Era (2012), commissioned by and is dedicated to Thomas Hampson, duration 50'

Chamber music 

Strings:

Solo:
Giľa Rome, Meditation for solo viola, (1980), duration 5',
Dža more, Gypsy ballad for solo violin (1990), duration 5',
Rosa triste for solo violin (1993), duration 5'

Duets:

Sine dolore for violin and cello (1989), duration 5'
Concerto dei fiori, Concerto for violin and piano (1996), duration 17' (orchestral version), duration 13' (chamber version)
Ancora una volta primavera Sonata for violin and piano (1992), duration 12'
De Dagmar regina for violin and accordion (2012), duration 7'

Trios:

Pre-Visions, Fresques for piano trio (1983), duration 8'
Megiddo for violin, cello and piano (2001), duration 15'
La Speranza for clarinet, cello and piano (1993), duration 8'
Raffiche di vento for flute, viola and cello (2009), duration 11'
Vallja e malit - Dancing Mountain for violin, clarinet and piano (2017), duration 13 ´

Quartets and Quintets:
Dignitas homini, String quartet No. 1 (1987), duration 10'
Struggle with an Angel, Melodrama for male voice and string quartet to the text of poem by Jaroslav Seifert (1988), duration 10'
Terezín Ghetto Requiem for baritone and string quartet (1998), duration 16'
Hélios for flute, violin, cello and piano (1998), duration 8'
Concierto de Estío for guitar and string quartet (1999), duration 16'
Shofarot, String quartet No. 4 (2000), duration 13'
Rotationes for clarinet, violin, viola and cello (2012), duration 18'

More than five performers:
"Wenn wir in höchsten Nöten" – Die Kunst der Fuge for two string quartets and harp (2004), transcriptions of selected parts of Bach's work with own compositions, duration 43'

Winds:

Solo:

Saluti da Siena per clarinetto solo (1981), duration 5'
Léthé per flauto solo (1989), duration 4'
Laugaritio per fagotto solo (1994), duration 7'

Duets:
The Fragrance of Summer, Miniattacca for flute and piano (1976), duration 6'
Musica dedicata di Due Boemi di Praga for bassclarinet and piano (1980), duration 6'
Panamody for flute and piano (1986), duration 8'
Magikon for oboe and piano (1987), duration 10'
Transflautato for flute and piano (2014), commissioned by Prague Spring International Festival, duration 10'

More performers:
Anvils, Meditation for Due Boemi di Praga and wind quintet (1984), duration 12'
Ventimiglia for trumpet and 6 percussion players (1992), also version for soprano and prcussion, duration 11'
Hélios per flauto, oboe, fagotto, violoncello e cembalo(1994), duration 8'
Vertumnus, Five pictures from Rudolphinian Prague for brass quintet (2004), 2 trumpets, French horn, trombone, tuba, duration 18'

Vocal and vocal-instrumental works 
Ventimiglia for soprano and six percussion players (1992), duration 11'
Dona nobis lucem, Concerto for soprano, violin, guitar and strings (1994), duration 11
Terezín Ghetto Requiem for baritone and string quartet (1998), duration 16'
Ama me, Song cycle for baritone, or mezzo, and piano (1999), duration 17'
Juda Maccabeus, Oratorio for soprano, tenor, baritone, three speakers, children and mixed choirs and big symphony orchestra (2002), duration 73', score and parts Prague Spring International Music Festival
Ave Noëlle, Christmas song for tenor or soprano and symphony orchestra (2003), duration 7'
Ave Noëlle, Christmas song for tenor or soprano and piano (2003), duration 7'
Terezín Ghetto Requiem for baritone and string orchestra (2005), duration 17'
Sadaj, slnko, sadaj – The Setting Sun, Seven Slovak Folksongs for Two Voices, Harp and Piano (2005), also version for one or two voices with harp or piano, duration 13' 1. "Čo sa stalo nové" ("What's happened new"); 2. "Dala som mu pierko" "I gave him a feather"3 . "Sadaj, slnko, sadaj" ("Set, sun, set"); 4. "Neorem, nesejem" (I sow not and plough not) 5. "Zavej že, vetricok" ("Blow little breeze"), 6. "Prečo že ma" ("Why is that?) 7. "Opýtaj sa Baláža" ("Go ask Balaz"). 
JA RA LAJ, 27 compositions for tenor, violin, viola, clarinet, harp, percussion and strings inspired by Slovak, Balkan and Gypsy music (2009), duration 50'
Apple Train, 7 songs for soprano and piano on texts by Jan Skácel (2009), duration 19'

Choir works
Amor tenet omnia, three compositions for mixed choir, two pianos and percussion on the texts from Carmina burana collection (2007), duration 12'

Guitar works 
Baltic miniatures for guitar solo (1979), duration 8'
 Fairy tales for flute and guitar (1980), duration 10'
Violet diary for guitar solo (1985), composition for children, duration 6'
Tre canzoni da suonare for guitar and strings (1985), duration 17'
Elegy for guitar solo – Homage to Columbus (1988), duration 5'
Sostar mange, Gypsy ballade for guitar solo (1991), duration 10'
Dona nobis lucem, Concerto for soprano, violin, guitar and strings (1994), duration 11'
Concierto de Estío for guitar and strings (1999), also for guitar and string quartet, duration 16'
Plegaria, Prayer for guitar solo (2000), duration 5'

Harp, piano, organ 
Musica per organo  (1982), duration 7'
Pre-Visions, Frescos for piano trio (1983), duration 8'
Pontem video, Concerto for organ, strings and percussion (1983), duration 14'
La Speranza for clarinet, cello and piano (1993), duration 8'
Fade-outs, Fresco for piano solo (1987), duration 6'
Megiddo for violin, cello and piano (2001), duration 15'
Mysterium druidum (2003), concerto for harp and strings, also harp and string quartet, duration 18'
Come d'accordo, Concerto for piano and orchestra (2006), duration 16', commissioned and premiered by Prague Philharmonia
Come d'accordo, Concerto for two pianos (2006) – chamber version, duration 16'
Three Sonnets Sonata for Piano, (2013), ArcoDiva, duration 17', commissioned by 21st Tucson Winter Chamber Music Festival
Emek ha-bacha / The Valle of Tears for Organ Solo, (2017), ArcoDiva, duration 9'

Music for children 
Cat colouring book for piano (1974), duration 5'
Tůňka – Small swimming hole, small opera ballet for children (1976), duration 25'
Violet diary Cycle of children compositions for children (1985), duration 4'
Vezeme písničku – We carry on the song to the texts of poems by Věra Provazníková, cycle of songs for small children (1985), duration 8'
Carousel for piano (2000), duration 1', ABRSM PUBLISHING
Vindobona for piano (2003), duration 3'

Arrangements or orchestrations of another composers 
Antonín Dvořák Gypsy Melodies, Op. 55 for baritone/soprano(tenor) and chamber orchestra (2012), duration 16'
commissioned by Thomas Hampson with Wiener Virtuosi

Selected discography 
 Jana Jarkovská  - flute (2022), / Danza del diavolo, Hélios, Summer  Scents, Panamody,  Via maris, Transflautato, Snow and stars/, Radioservis CR 1117-2
 Kristina Fialová - viola (2021), / Gila Rome for viola solo/, ArcoDiva UP 0236
 Vladimír Ráž, New Chamber Orchestra, Vladimír Rejšek (2021), / Zápas s andělem, melodram na slova J. Seiferta/, ArcoDiva UP 0232
 Jitka Hosprová, Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra, Jan Kučera (2020), / Planctus for Viola and Orchestra/, Supraphon SU 4276
 Jana Jarkovská - flute (2020), / Léthé/, Radioservis CR 1061
 Michaela Rózsa Růžičková, Hana Dobešová, Ladislava Vondráčková (2019), / Slovak Duets/, ArcoDiva UP 0210
 Trio Clavio (2018), /Vallja e malit - Dancing Mountain/, ArcoDiva UP 0204
 Eva Garajová - Ama me (2016), /Ama me - Song Cycle, Three Psalms/, ArcoDiva UP 0184
Eben Trio – Elegiac Stories (2012) / Prefigurations – Piano trio / ArcoDiva UP 0143
Dana Vlachová – violin (2012) / Sine dolore for Violin and Cello, dedicated to Josef Vlach / ArcoDiva UP 0146
Irvin Epoque – CrossOver (2012) / Babadag for Clarinet and String Quartet / ArcoDiva UP 0147
Bohemian Music for Flute and Guitar (2012) / Fairy-Tales only for Flute and Guitar / URANIA RECORDS LDV 14006
Prague Symphony Orchestra, Jiří Kout (2012) / Symphony No 1, Con le campane / FOK 0005
Kateřina Englichová – Fire Dance (2009) / Mysterium druidum for Harp and Strings / ArcoDiva UP 0116
Puella trio – Fiala Bodorová Eben (2009) / Megiddo per violino, violoncello e pianoforte / ArcoDiva UP 0114
Štefan Margita JA RA LAJ (2009) / JA RA LAJ – Suite on folk motives and texts – 27 Slovak, Balkan and Roma songs / ArcoDiva UP 0110
Carmina lucemburgiana (2009) / Carmina lucemburgiana for Strings "To the memory of John the Blind" / ArcoDiva UP 0113
Quattro plays Quattro (2008) / Bern concerto, Concerto dei fiori / ArcoDiva UP 0100
Miroslav Ambroš violin Zuzana Ambrošová piano Il virtuoso (2006) / Dža more / ArcoDiva UP 0089
Works for Violin and Piano Jiří Gemrot Sylvie Bodorová - Concerto dei fiori per violino e pianoforte Miroslav Kubička Petr Janda Silvie Hessová – violin Daniel Wiesner - piano (2006) Cube Bohemia CBCD 2632
Štefan Margita Tears and smiles Mikuláš Schneider-Trnavský Slovak Songs (2006) includes Sadaj, slnko, sadaj – Seven Slovak Songs / ArcoDiva UP 0084
Gabriela Beňačková From the Heart. Mikuláš Schneider-Trnavský  Slovak Songs (2006) included Sadaj, slnko, sadaj – Seven Slovak Songs / ArcoDiva UP 0001
Never broken (2004) / Terezín Ghetto Requiem / Center Stage Records
Juda Maccabeus (2004) ArcoDiva UP 0065
Ronald Stevenson String Quartets– Sylvie Bodorova – Terezín Ghetto Requiem, Conciero de Estío. Nigel Cliffe - Baritone María Isabel Siewers - Guitar Martinu Quartet (Lubomír Havlak, Petr Matejak, Jan Jisa, Jitka Vlasankova) ArcoDiva UP 0052 (2003) 
Jitka Hosprova viola Rhapsody Bodorova: Gila Rome (2002) ArcoDiva UP 0043
Prague String Quartets (2001) / Shofarot / ArcoDiva UP 0044
A Paganini Compositions for solo violin Milstein, Kreisler, Schnittke, Ernst, Bodorova Dža more, Bach Pavel Sporcl violin (1999) ArcoDiva UP 0010
Protokol XX – Sylvie Bodorová (1997) / Pontem video, Plankty, Dignitas homini Prague Chambre Philharmonic/ Panton
Prague Guitar Concertos (1996) / Tre canzoni da suonare, Dona nobis lucem / Supraphon
María Isabel Siewers Amigos (1994) / Sostar mange – Gypsy Balad for guitar / Aurophon

References

External links
Sylvie Bodorová official website (in English)
ArcoDiva, Sylvie Bodorová's agency

1954 births
Living people
20th-century classical composers
20th-century women composers
21st-century classical composers
21st-century women composers
Czech classical composers
Women classical composers
Janáček Academy of Music and Performing Arts alumni